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Annual ORR Reports to Congress - 2001

Reasons for Not Looking for Work

The survey also asked refugees age 16 and over who were not employed why they were not looking for employment. Attending school accounted for the largest proportion (40 percent) with an associated median age of 18. Age accounted for another 11 percent with an associated median age of 72. Poor health or handicap accounted for the third largest proportion (8%) with an associated median age of 57. Child care or other family responsibilities accounted for another eight percent with an associated median age of 35. Furthermore, for those citing child care or other family responsibilities, 76 percent were under the age of 40 and 97 percent were female. Limited

English accounted for another four percent with an associated median age of 41. However, a com-bination of limited English and other answers (most often associated with poor health and age) accounted for an additional 26 percent. Finally, a mixture of still other answers accounted for the balance.

Because refugees coming from different regions have a different mix of background characteristics, reasons for not working vary as well by country of origin. For example nearly a third of the refugees in the 2001 survey who were from the former Soviet Union and did not work in the year prior to the survey were age 65 years and older, generally considered retirement age in the U.S.

 

Table 2- Employment Status of Refugees by Survey Year and Sex

(Based on Refugees Age 16 and Older)
		Employment Rate (EPR)				Labor Force Participation Rate				Unemployment Rate
Year Survey Administered		All	Male	Female		All	Male	Female		All	Male	Female
2001 Survey		62.0	67.7	56.3		66.6	72.7	60.5		6.9	6.9	7.0
U.S. Rates		63.8	70.8	57.3		66.9	74.4	60.1		4.8	4.8	4.7
2000 Survey		60.8	72.6	62.7		70.1	74.9	65.1		3.3	3.0	3.7
U.S. Rates		64.5	71.8	57.7		67.2	74.7	60.2		4.0	3.9	4.1
1999 Survey		66.8	72.3	61.1		68.9	74.4	63.3		3.1	2.8	3.5
U.S. Rates		64.3	71.6	57.4		67.1	74.7	60.0		4.2	4.1	4.3
1998 Survey		56.0	62.7	49.4		59.1	65.9	52.3		5.2	4.9	5.6
U.S. Rates		64.1	71.6	57.1		67.1	74.9	59.8		4.5	4.4	4.6
1997 Survey		53.9	62.9	45.1		58.3	67.1	49.5		7.5	6.3	9.0
U.S. Rates		63.8	71.3	56.8		67.1	75	59.8		4.9	4.9	5
1996 Survey		51.1	58.8	43.3		57.5	65.7	49.2		11.2	10.6	12.0
U.S. Rates		63.2	70.9	56.0		66.8	74.9	59.3		5.4	5.4	5.4
1995 Survey		42.3	49.5	35.1		49.8	57.4	42.1		15.1	14.0	16.6
U.S. Rates		62.9	70.8	55.6		66.6	75	58.9		5.6	5.6	5.6
1994 Survey		35.5	41.2	29.8		43.6	50.7	36.5		18.8	18.9	18.6
U.S. Rates		62.5	70.4	55.3		66.6	75.1	58.8		6.1	6.2	6
1993 Survey		32.5	37.3	27.7		35.4	41.2	29.7		8.4	9.5	6.9
U.S. Rates		61.7	70.0	54.1		66.3	75.4	57.9		6.9	7.2	6.6

Note: As of October 2001, October 2000, October 1999, October 1998, and October 1997. Not seasonally adjusted. Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who were interviewed as a part of the 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997 surveys. U.S. rates are for 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997.

TABLE 3 - Employment Status of Selected Refugee Groups by Sex: 2001 Refugee Survey

Employment Measure	Africa	Eastern Europe	Latin America	Middle East	Other S.E. Asia	Former Soviet Union	Vietnam	All
Employment Rate (EPR)	50.4%	75.5%	68.9%	60.1%	57.9%	46.8%	71.8%	62.0%
-Males	60.9	77.1	77.3	65.8	69.0	53.3	73.6	67.7
-Females	39.4	73.8	60.2	53.6	48.1	40.8	69.8	56.3
Worked at any point since arrival	54.9	79.0	76.2	63.5	59.2	53.6	72.6	66.8
-Males	66.4	80.0	81.5	69.4	69.0	60.7	75.2	72.2
-Females	42.7	77.9	70.8	56.6	50.6	47.0	69.8	61.4
Labor Force  Participation Rate	54.9	77.6	74.3	70.8	57.9	53.4	72.9	66.6
-Males	65.1	79.3	82.5	78.0	69.0	61.0	75.2	72.7
-Females	44.1	75.9	66.0	62.5	48.1	46.3	70.3	60.5
Unemployment Rate	8.2	2.7	7.4	15.1	0.0	12.4	1.5	6.9
-Males	6.5	2.8	6.3	15.6	0.0	12.7	2.1	6.9
Females	10.8	2.7	8.8	14.3	0.0	12.0	0.7	6.9

Note: As of October 2001. Not seasonally adjusted. Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who arrived in the years 1996-2001.

Work Experience in the Previous Year

A gauge of economic adjustment that shows a longer time frame than employment status (which only relates to employment during the week prior to the survey) is work experience, which measures not only the number of weeks worked in the past year, but the usual number of hours worked.

As with employment status, the proportion of refugees with some work experience in the past year tends to increase with length of time in the U.S. In the 2001 survey, only about 36 percent of refugees who arrived in 2001 had worked at all compared with over 70 percent of those who arrived in 1997 and 1998, virtually the same proportion as that for the U.S. population as a whole. The work rate for the 1997 and 1998 arrivals was somewhat higher than the proportion of 1996 arrivals who worked by the time of the 2001 survey. It should be remembered that refugee arrivals are a different mix of cultures and skill levels in each year and that this can affect levels of work experience. But that is not to say that the work level of 1996 arrivals has remained constant even if it has not reached that of more recent refugee groups. In surveys from 1996 to 2001, the proportion of 1996 arrivals who worked in the year prior to each survey has increased from 35 percent in the 1996 survey to 57 percent in the 1998 survey to the present level of 65 percent.

Another way of measuring the employment progress of refugees is to explore the weeks worked of refugees who arrived in the same year but in successive surveys. For example the average number of weeks worked by 1997 refugee arrivals in the 1997 survey was 24.9 weeks, 41.1 weeks in the 1998 survey, 45.6 weeks in the 1999 survey, 48.0 weeks in the 2000 survey and 48.6 weeks in the 2001 survey.

Work Experience of Adult Refugees in the 2001 Survey
By Year of Arrival

	Number	Percent Distribution
Total refugees 16 years and older	3911	100.0
Worked	2476	63.3
50-52 weeks	1845	47.2
Full-time	1605	41.0
Average weeks worked	45.5
2001 arrivals	211	100.0
Worked	75	35.5
50-52 weeks	0	0
Full-time	0	0
Average weeks worked	21.5
2000 arrivals	735	100.0
Worked	383	52.1
50-52 weeks	184	25.0
Full-time	153	20.8
Average weeks worked	38.5
1999 arrivals	985	100.0
Worked	648	65.8
50-52 weeks	509	51.7
Full-time	434	44.1
Average weeks worked	46.7
1998 arrivals	781	100.0
Worked	554	70.9
50-52 weeks	467	59.8
Full-time	420	53.8
Average weeks worked	47.9
1997 arrivals	678	100.0
Worked	477	70.4
50-52 weeks	402	59.3
Full-time	352	51.9
Average weeks worked	48.6
1996 arrivals	521	100.0
Worked	340	65.3
50-52 weeks	285	54.7
Full-time	248	47.6
Average weeks worked	48.5

Not only do the average number of weeks worked increase with time in the U.S., the proportion of refugees who are able to find full-time employment increases. Full-time employment is usually measured as 35 hours or more work per week. And over half of adult refugees in the 2001 survey who arrived prior to 2000 were working year-round (that is 50 to 52 weeks) and full-time (35 hours or more per week). For the U.S. population as a whole, about 47 percent of adults worked year-round and full-time in 2001.

Disability limiting or preventing work can affect both the young and old. Twenty-three percent of refugees 16 years and over who did not work in the year prior to the 2001 survey said they had a physical or mental condition which had lasted at least six months and limited the kind or amount of work they could perform. Most of these persons also indicated their disability prevented them from working at all. About half of refugees 65 years old and over who did not work based on the 2001 survey indicated they had a disability.

The reasons given for not working by refugees who had not worked in the previous year are shown in the chart below, with "attending school" the largest single reason (given by 41 percent of respondents). Limited English as a sole reason was given by relatively few refugees who did not work (4 percent). "Age" was given by 12 percent and poor health and child care/family responsibilities were given by about eight percent each. Discouraged workers (persons who believed no work was available or who indicated they could not find a job) made up a relatively small fraction of refugees who did not work, with less than one percent giving this reason alone. Twenty-eight percent of non-working refugees gave more than one reason for not looking for work.

Figure 3. Reason not looking for Work for Refugees 16 years and over: 2001 Survey.

(Chart note: Limited to refugees who did not work in previous year and are not looking for work at the time of the survey.)

*(Chart note: "Couldn't find job" represents survey value, "Believes no work available/couldn't find job")

Elapsed Time to First Job

How soon do refugees find work after coming to the U.S.? Evidence from the 2001 survey indicates that of those who have worked at all since coming to the U.S. (about 66 percent of refugees 16 years old and over in that survey), about 15 percent found work within one month of arrival, an additional 19 percent after two to three months, 25 percent within four to six months, while another 23 percent took seven to 12 months and 19 percent took more than a year. Thus more than half found employment within six months of arrival, and about a third of refugees reported finding first employment within three months of arrival in the current survey. The latter figure was about the same in the 1993 survey, and has fluctuated only between 26 and 35 percent during the past decade. The fraction taking more than a year to find first employment has, however, declined in recent years, from between 29 and 30 percent in surveys prior to 1998 to the present level of 19 percent. Economic conditions within the U.S. appear to have slowed down the ability of incoming refugees to find employment quickly, but only slightly. About 35 percent of refugees in the 1999 survey found employment within three months compared with the current figure of 33 percent, and only 17 percent took more than a year to find employment, compared with the current 19 percent.

Factors Affecting Employment

Achieving economic self-sufficiency is based on the employment prospects of adult refugees, which is hinged on a mixture of skills, family size and composition (e.g., number of dependents to support), job opportunities, and the resources available in the communities in which refugees resettle. The occupational and educational skills that refugees bring with them to the United States also influence their prospects for self-sufficiency, as can cultural factors.

The average number of years of education for all arrivals was approximately eleven (refer to Table 4). The level of education prior to arrival has risen sharply over the past decade, most probably as a result of a significant increase in the proportion of refugees from Eastern Europe (particularly, the former Yugoslavia) and the former Soviet Union. In the 1993 survey for example, 85 percent of refugees from Southeast Asia (other than Vietnam) had not received a primary or secondary school certificate. The 2001 survey revealed a pronounced and continued disparity between the educational backgrounds among the seven refugee groups formed from the survey respondents.

The average years of education were highest for Latin America and the former Soviet Union (12 and 11 years, respectively) and lowest for Other Southeast Asia (six years). By combining high school, technical school, university and medical degrees, the former Soviet Union (74 percent) ranks highest for education while Other Southeast Asia (less than 29 percent) ranks the lowest. Paradoxically, as indicated earlier, refugees from the former Soviet Union have a relatively low labor force participation rate despite their relatively high education.

Refugees from Other Southeast Asia (47 percent) and Africa (23 percent) showed the largest proportion with no formal education before arriving in the U.S. However they rank high for attending high school for a degree during the past 12 months. Africa shows the highest proportion for attempting to earn an Associate Degree followed by Latin America, and Other Southeast Asia shows the highest proportion for attempting to earn a Bachelor's Degree followed by Middle East. It should be noted that even though the survey asks about years of schooling and the highest degree or certificate obtained prior to coming to the U.S., the correspondence between years of schooling and degrees or certifications among different countries is not necessarily the same. Consequently, some degree of caution is necessary when interpreting education statistics.

Nearly 60 percent of refugees in the 2001 survey reported speaking no English when they arrived in the U.S. (refer to Table 4). But this fraction was reduced considerably by the time of the survey interview, when only nine percent reported speaking no English. At the time of arrival, 70 percent of refugees from the former Soviet Union spoke no English followed by Latin America (66 percent), Eastern Europe (63 percent), Vietnam (57 percent), Other Southeast Asia (57 percent), followed by the Middle East (47 percent) and Africa (30 percent). By the time of the interview, 21 percent of refugees from Latin America still spoke no English followed by the former Soviet Union (12 percent), Vietnam (six percent), and Middle East (six percent).

TABLE 4 - Educational and English Proficiency Characteristics of Selected Refugee Groups

Education and Language Proficiency	Africa	Eastern Europe	Latin America	Middle East	Other S.E.Asia	Former Soviet Union	Vietnam	All
Average Years of Education before U.S.	8.6	11.0	12.0	10.5	6.1	11.4	10.5	10.9
Highest Degree before U.S.
None	23.2%	5.2%	16.8%	9.8%	47.4%	2.5%	9.3%	9.8%
Primary School	26.4	20.7	8.7	23.0	22.4	16.9	24.9	19.0
Secondary School	34.4	49.4	36.2	45.7	26.3	29.0	54.3	39.9
Technical School	0.7	8.3	14.8	3.7	1.3	23.5	0.0	11.3
University Degree	7.5	9.5	15.6	13.5	1.3	19.3	7.2	12.8
Medical Degree	0.0	1.2	0.6	0.9	0.0	2.2	0.0	1.1
Attended School/University (since U.S.)	39.7	26.1	13.5	33.5	38.8	18.7	18.6	23.5
Attended School/University (since U.S.) for degree/certificate	36.1	20.1	11.6	27.4	32.9	18.1	15.8	20.3
High School	21.5	7.9	3.3	7.2	15.8	9.1	6.0	8.9
Associate Degree	7.9	2.0	3.6	3.1	1.3	2.9	2.8	3.3
Bachelor's Degree	5.2	9.4	1.7	14.5	15.8	5.0	7.1	6.8
Master's/Doctorate	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.0	0.2
Professional Degree	0.0	0.3	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.2
Other	0.7	0.0	2.1	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.5
Degree Received	2.6	0.8	1.5	1.0	0.0	0.8	0.3	1.0
At Time of Arrival
Percent Speaking no English	30.0	62.9	66.2	47.2	56.6	69.6	56.7	59.8
Percent Not Speaking English Well	44.8	26.2	28.7	38.0	24.3	23.7	39.1	30.1
Percent Speaking English Well or Fluently	22.5	8.9	4.8	12.7	19.1	4.6	3.5	8.4
At Time of Survey
Percent Speaking no English	5.6	4.7	21.0	6.1	2.6	11.5	6.3	9.4
Percent Not Speaking English Well	12.9	11.3	47.2	23.1	13.8	39.8	22.2	27.0
Percent Speaking English Well or Fluently	79.3	84.0	31.8	70.9	83.6	48.7	71.5	63.3

 

Note: Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who arrived in the years 1996-2001. These figures refer to self-reported characteristics of refugees. Professional degree refers to a law degree or medical degree. All other refugee groups had dropped below six percent. By the time of the interview, refugees from Latin America had the smallest percentage who reported speaking English well or fluently (32 percent) followed by the former Soviet Union (49 percent.)

The ability to speak English is one of the most important factors influencing the economic self-sufficiency of refugees (refer to Table 5). Sixty-three percent of all refugees indicated that they spoke English well or fluently (at the time of the survey). Another 27 percent indicated that they did not speak English well, while nine percent said they spoke no English at all. Those speaking no English had the lowest employment rate (23 percent) while those speaking English well or fluently had a highest EPR (72 percent). Although most refugees improve their English language proficiency over time, those who do not are the least likely to be employed. Of the nine percent of the survey respondents who spoke no English at the time of the survey, the median age was 62. Females comprised 57 percent and males comprised 43 percent. The majority came from Latin America (35 percent) 7 followed by the former Soviet Union (34 percent), Eastern Europe (13 percent) and Vietnam (7 percent).

During the past 12 months, 21 percent of all refugees attended English Language Training (ELT) outside of high school. Refugees from the former Soviet Union (31 percent) and Middle East (29 percent) followed by Latin America (26 percent) and Africa (19 percent) have attended ELT outside of high school the most, whereas Vietnam (4 percent) followed by Eastern Europe (13 percent) and other Southeast Asia (16 percent) have attended ELT the least (refer to Table 6). For the same period, the proportion of refugees who have attended job-training classes lags far behind ELT.

TABLE 5 - English Proficiency and Associated EPR by Year of Arrival

Year of Arrival	Percent Speaking No English (EPR)	Percent Not Speaking English Well (EPR)	Percent Speaking English Well or Fluently (EPR)
At Time of Arrival
2001	44.2 (35.9)	49.6 (36.6)	6.3 (82.9)
2000	59.5 (47.3)	28.9 (63.6)	10.4 (58.9)
1999	48.5 (59.1)	37.4 (73.0)	11.7 (62.0)
1998	71.6 (65.0)	22.8 (77.1)	5.0 (84.3)
1997	65.8 (65.3)	24.3 (74.8)	7.9 (71.0)
1996	62.7 (56.8)	28.5 (73.6)	6.1 (83.9)
Total Sample	59.8 (58.3)	30.1 (69.0)	8.4 (68.3)
At Time of Survey
2001	22.1 (33.4)	43.8 (36.9)	34.1 (46.0)
2000	15.3 (25.1)	40.9 (55.2)	42.6 (61.6)
1999	6.3 (24.7)	27.9 (59.8)	65.8 (70.0)
1998	7.8 (24.9)	21.9 (48.4)	70.2 (79.8)
1997	8.2 (19.2)	18.3 (52.0)	73.5 (77.4)
1996	6.1 (3.4)	17.8 (38.0)	76.1 (73.1)
Total Sample	9.4 (23.3)	27.0 (51.8)	63.3 (72.4)

Note: As of October 2001. Not seasonally adjusted. Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who arrived in the years 1996-2001. These figures refer to self-reported characteristics of refugees.

TABLE 6 - Service Utilization by Selected Refugee Groups and for Year of Arrival

Type of Service Utilization	Africa	Eastern Europe	Latin America	Middle East	Other S.E. Asia	Former Soviet Union	Vietnam	All
ELT since arrival Inside High School	21.2%	8.5%	3.3%	6.6%	17.1%	5.5%	6.4%	8.0%
ELT since arrival Outside of High School	19.0	12.7	26.3	28.5	15.8	30.6	4.1	20.7
Job training since arrival	1.0	2.0	8.2	6.1	0.0	5.8	0.0	3.9
Currently attending ELT Inside High School	21.2	8.5	3.3	6.6	17.1	5.5	6.4	8.0
Currently attending ELT Outside of High School	15.9	9.5	8.8	23.5	15.8	17.6	3.3	12.8
Type of Service Utilization by Year of Arrival		2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	All
ELT since arrival Inside High School		11.1%	7.5%	10.3%	6.4%	6.7%	7.5%	8.0%
ELT since arrival Outside of High School		41.4	39.1	20.0	11.1	14.3	10.6	20.7
Job training since arrival		4.3	6.5	5.1	1.9	2.8	2.6	3.9
Currently attending ELT Inside High School		11.1	7.5	10.3	6.4	6.7	7.5	8.0
Currently attending ELT Outside of High School		22.1	23.5	11.7	8.3	8.6	8.1	12.8

Note: Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who arrived in the years 1996-2001. In order that English language training (ELT) not be confused with English high school instruction, statistics for both populations are given.

Overall, only four percent of all survey respondents had attended job training (refer to Table 6). Refugees from Latin America, Middle East, and the former Soviet Union had attended the greatest amount versus refugees from other Southeast Asia and Vietnam who had attended the least. Across all refugee groups that attended job training, 57 percent indicated they spoke English well or fluently at the time of the survey, while 41 percent indicated that they did not speak English well and two percent indicated that they did not speak English at all.

Earnings and Utilization of Public Assistance

The earnings of employed refugees generally rise with length of residence in the United States (refer to Table 7). For 2001 arrivals, the average hourly wage was $7.50.8 For 1996 arrivals, the average hourly wage was $9.90 per hour (a difference of 32

TABLE 7 - Hourly Wages, Home Ownership, and Self-Sufficiency by Year of Arrival: 2001 Survey

Year of Arrival	Hourly Wages of Employed –Current Job	Own Home or Apartment	Rent Home Or Apartment	Public Assistance Only	Both Public Assistance and Earnings	Earnings Only
2001	$7.50	5.7%	94.3%	37.4%	46.8%	11.9%
2000	7.80	3.6	94.9	19.9	34.8	42.9
1999	8.20	2.4	96.9	8.2	18.6	72.0
1998	9.20	6.2	93.1	8.3	14.8	75.7
1997	10.40	13.5	86.1	13.1	15.0	71.1
1996	9.90	15.9	82.0	14.6	16.7	68.2
Total Sample	8.90	7.2	91.9	14.0	21.9	62.7

Note: Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who arrived in the years 1996-2001. These figures refer to self-reported characteristics of refugees.

percent) for those in the 2001 survey. The overall hourly wage of employed refugees in the five-year population was $8.90 (up from $8.83, $8.29, $7.97, and $7.38 reported in the 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997 surveys, respectively, not adjusting for inflation). Another way of looking at these earnings data is to follow refugees who arrived in the same year over time. For example, the average wage for 1997 arrivals was $6.80 in 1997, $7.60 in 1998, $8.40 in 1999, $8.90 in 2000 and $10.40 in 2001 (not adjusting for inflation which was about three percent a year during this period). This increase in earnings over time for refugees is illustrated in the graphic below for those in the past five surveys. Looking at the arrival years vertically shows the increase for a particular arrival group over time, while each line itself shows the average wages for the refugees in that particular survey by arrival year.

From the 2001 survey, the overall hourly wage of employed refugees who spoke English well or fluently at the time of the survey was $9.68 compared to $8.53 for refugees who did not speak English well and $7.49 for refugees who did not speak English at all. Upon closer examination, refugees who spoke English well or fluently at the time of the survey accounted for 78 percent of jobs that paid over $7.50 per hour compared to 20 percent of refugees who did not speak English well and only two percent of refugees who did not speak English at all. Finally, the number of refugees who reported home ownership also appears to rise with length of residence. Whereas six percent of 2001 arrivals reported home ownership, 16 percent of 1996 arrivals reported home ownership.

Table 7 also details the economic self-sufficiency of the five-year sample population from the 2001 survey. Overall, almost 63 percent of all refugee households in the United States for five years or less had achieved economic self-sufficiency by October 2001. That is they relied on earnings only for their sustenance (compared to 65, 66, 60, and 55 percent reported in the 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997 surveys, respectively). An additional 22 percent had achieved partial independence, with household income a mix of earnings and public assistance (higher than percents reported in the 1997 - 2000 surveys). For another 14 percent of refugee households, however, income in 2001 consisted entirely of public assistance (an increase of two percentage points from the 2000 survey but down five percentage points from the 1998 survey and seven percentage points from the 1997 survey). Hourly wages, home ownership, and self-sufficiency for the most recent five surveys are contained in Table 8. While there are year to year fluctuations because of the different mix of refugee demographics and skill levels, economic self-sufficiency tends to increase with time in the U.S., although largely within the first two years. For example 24 percent of refugees who entered the U.S. in 1996 relied on earnings only in the 1996 survey, 49 percent were self-sufficient in the 1997 survey, 60 percent in the 1998 survey, 66 percent in the 1999 survey, 70 percent in the 2000 survey and 68 percent in the 2001 survey were able to sustain themselves economically based on earnings alone.

Table 9 details several household characteristics by type of income. Households receiving cash assistance average three members and no wage earners, while those with a mix of earnings and assistance income average five members and two wage earners. Households that receive no cash assistance average three members with two wage earners. A child under the age of six as well as a household member under the age of 16 was present in households with a mix of earnings and assistance more often than either welfare dependent households or households with earnings only.

English language proficiency was lowest in welfare dependent households. Only six percent of these households contained one or more persons fluent in English. In contrast, about 25 percent of households with a mix of earnings and assistance reported at least one fluent English speaker. Forty nine percent of households with earnings income only reported at least one fluent English speaker. Again, the relationship between English language proficiency and income is clear.

TABLE 8 -Average Hourly Wages, Home Ownership, and Public Assistance by Survey Year

Year of Survey	Average Hourly Wages of Employed	Own Home or Apartment	Rent Home or Apartment	Public Assistance Only	Both Public Assistance and Earnings	Earnings Only
2001 Survey	$8.90	7.2%	91.9%	14.0%	21.9%	62.7%
2000 Survey	8.83	8.2	90.0	12.4	20.3	65.2
1999 Survey	8.29	13.0	84.9	12.8	19.1	66.4
1998 Survey	7.97	9.2	88.6	18.8	18.7	60.1
1997 Survey	7.38	7.9	89.4	20.7	21.3	55.3

Note: As of October 2001, October 2000, October 1999, October 1998, and October 1997. Earnings figures are not adjusted for inflation. Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who were interviewed as a part of the 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997 surveys.

Table 9 - Characteristics of Households by Type of Income

	Refugee Households with:
Household Characteristics	Public Assist. Only	Both Public Assistance and Earnings	Earn. Only	Total Sample
Average Household Size	2.7	4.7	3.3	3.5
Average Number of wage earners per household	0.0	1.5	1.8	1.5
Percent of households with at least one member:
Under the age of 6	13.1%	34.8%	22.5%	23.7%
Under the age of 16	29.9	66.8	55.3	54.0
Fluent English Speaker	6.3	25.4	48.8	37.5

Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who arrived in the years 1996-2001 Refugee households with neither earnings nor assistance are excluded.

Medical Coverage

Overall, 12 percent of adult refugees surveyed lacked medical coverage of any kind throughout the year preceding the survey (refer to Table 10). This proportion varied widely among the five refugee groups, from a low of about five percent for the group from the former Soviet Union to a high of 25 percent for Latin America. Refugees from Eastern Europe were the most likely to have medical coverage through employment (79 percent) whereas the group from the former Soviet Union was the least likely to have medical coverage through employment (25 percent). These findings are consistent with the associated EPR for each refugee group. Medical coverage through Medicaid or Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) was highest for the former Soviet Union (62 percent) and lowest for Other Southeast Asia (10 percent).

The proportion of refugees without medical coverage ranged from a low of six percent for 2001 arrivals to a high of 14 percent for 1999 arrivals. As a general rule, medical coverage through employment increases with time in the U.S., and medical coverage through government aid programs declines with time in the U.S. Overall, 50 percent of the refugees surveyed had medical coverage through employment and 33 percent had medical coverage through Medicaid or RMA. Medical coverage through employment rose from 16 percent for refugees who arrived in 2001 to 63 percent for refugees who arrived in 1997, and medical coverage through Medicaid or RMA dropped from 75 percent for refugees who arrived in 2001 to 21 percent for refugees who arrived in 1997. In 2001 and 2000 more adult refugees were covered through government aid programs than through an employer, and in 1999, 1998, 1997, and 1996 more adult refugees were covered through an employer than through government aid programs.

TABLE 10 - Source of Medical Coverage for Selected Refugee Groups and for Year of Arrival

Source of Medical Coverage	Africa	Eastern Europe	Latin America	Middle East	Other S.E. Asia	Former Soviet Union	Vietnam	All
No Medical Coverage in any of past 12 months	11.9%	9.3%	24.9%	12.0%	15.8%	5.0%	12.7%	11.5%
Medical Coverage through employer	47.1	78.7	33.5	46.5	73.0	24.5	72.7	50.3
Medicaid or RMA	35.7	10.4	33.1	34.4	9.9	62.3	13.7	33.0
Source of Medical Coverage by Year of Arrival		2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	All
No Medical Coverage in any of past 12 months		5.6%	12.0%	14.4%	10.7%	9.3%	11.9%	11.5%
Medical Coverage through Employer		16.4	27.6	53.4	61.6	63.4	56.5	50.3
Medicaid or RMA		74.9	51.2	29.2	24.9	20.5	26.1	33.0

Note: As of October 2001. Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who arrived in the years 1996-2001.

TABLE 11 - Source of Medical Coverage for Selected Refugee Groups by Year of Survey

Year of Survey	Africa	Eastern Europe	Latin America	Middle East	Other S.E. Asia	Former Soviet Union	Vietnam	All
No Medical Coverage in any of past 12 months
2001 Survey	11.9%	9.3%	24.9%	12.0%	15.8%	5.0%	12.7%	11.5%
2000 Survey	15.1	8.8	7.8	7.6	4.7	6.4	5.1	7.9
1999 Survey	12.4	12.2	23.8	12.6	12.4	8.4	10.2	12.6
1998 Survey	24.0	13.0	50.8	27.7	7.5	9.3	26.9	22.3
1997 Survey	7.4	16.0	35.1	29.7	5.7	10.8	20.2	18.4
Medical Coverage Through Employer
2001 Survey	47.1	78.7	33.5	46.5	73.0	24.5	72.7	50.3
2000 Survey	59.9	73.9	52.7	71.5	56.1	34.3	84.6	61.0
1999 Survey	50.8	64.0	63.4	64.7	29.0	33.0	74.3	56.3
1998 Survey	31.6	58.4	30.9	29.2	15.4	28.9	43.7	37.1
1997 Survey	30.8	57.4	36.2	21.2	7.5	27.4	47.5	36.9
Medicaid or RMA
2001 Survey	35.7	10.4	33.1	34.4	9.9	62.3	13.7	33.0
2000 Survey	24.3	12.7	23.6	19.9	39.2	52.7	10.1	25.5
1999 Survey	33.8	18.4	10.5	20.6	58.5	53.6	13.9	27.7
1998 Survey	38.3	18.8	17.5	34.0	71.6	54.3	28.2	35.6
1997 Survey	49.7	16.6	22.4	45.0	81.0	53.8	27.1	37.8

Note: As of October 2001, October 2000, October 1999, October 1998, and October 1997. Not seasonally adjusted. Data refer to refugees 16 and over in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who were interviewed as a part of the 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997 surveys. Between the 1997 and the 2001 surveys, the proportion of refugees without medical coverage (throughout the year preceding the survey) has dropped by six percent, medical coverage through Medicaid or RMA has dropped by five percent, and medical coverage through employment has increased from 37 to 50 percent (refer to Table 11).

Refugee Welfare Utilization

As in previous years, welfare utilization varied considerably among refugee groups. Table 12 presents welfare utilization data on the households of the seven refugee groups formed from the survey respondents. Non-cash assistance was generally higher than cash assistance, probably because Medicaid, food stamp, and housing assistance programs, though available to cash assistance households, are also available to households with low-income workers. Nearly 36 percent of refugee households reported receiving food stamps in the previous 12 months versus the 29, 27, 33, and 40 percent reported in the 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997 surveys, respectively. Utilization ranged from a high of 62 percent for the group from the former Soviet Union to a low of 11 percent for Eastern Europe. Thirty-three percent of all refugees reported that their medical coverage was through low-income medical assistance programs (Medicaid or RMA), up seven percent from the 2000 survey and five percent from the 1999 survey, and down three and five percentage points from the 1998 and 1997 surveys, respectively. In the 2001 survey, ten percent of refugee households reported that they lived in public housing projects versus the 12, 8, 16, and 17 percent reported in the 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997 surveys, respectively (refer to Table 13).

Tables 12 and 13 also reveal that 36 percent of refugee households surveyed in 2001 had received some kind of cash assistance in at least one of the previous 12 months. This represents an increase of three and four percent from the 2000 and 1999 surveys, respectively, and decrease of two and six percent from the 1998 and 1997 surveys, respectively. Overall, receipt of any type of cash assistance was highest for the former Soviet Union (62 percent) and Middle East (46 percent) and lowest for Eastern Europe (11 percent) and Vietnam (14 percent). Twelve percent of all refugee households had received Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) in the last 12 months, approximately five percentage points more than the number reported in the 2000 survey, and three percentage points more than the number reported in the 1999 survey, the same number as in the 1998 survey, and a decrease of four percent from the 1997 survey. Utilization ranged from a high of 25 percent for Africa to a low of two percent for Vietnam and three percent for Eastern Europe. Only three percent of sampled households received RCA in 2001. This rate is one percentage point lower than in the 2000 and 1997 surveys, and one percentage point higher than in the 1999 and 1998 surveys. Eighteen percent of refugee households had at least one household member who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in the past twelve months. This rate is the same as in the 2000 survey, one percentage point lower than in the 1999 survey, four percentage points lower than in the 1998 survey, and three percentage points lower than in the 1997 survey.

Utilization varied largely according to the number of refugees over age 65. Refugees from the former Soviet Union were found to utilize SSI most often. With more than nine percent of their five-year population aged 65 or over, 38 percent of their households received SSI. By contrast, only five percent of refugees from Middle East and Latin America were aged 65 or over and less than four percent of all remaining refugee groups were 65 or over. The median age for the seven refugee groups (more than 15 years old) ranged from a low of 27 years for Africa to 39 years for the former Soviet Union.

General Assistance (also called General Relief or Home Relief in some States) is a form of cash assistance funded entirely with State or local funds. It generally provides assistance to single persons, childless couples, and families with children that are not eligible for TANF. The 2001 survey reported that about nine percent of refugee households received some form of GA during the past twelve months compared to seven, six, eight, and nine percent reported in the 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997 surveys, respectively. Refugees from the Middle East showed the highest utilization rate (24 percent) followed by the former Soviet Union (22 percent) and Africa (3 percent). Refugees from the former Soviet Union initially resettled in New York are a case in point (discussed in more detail below). Other Southeast Asia showed the lowest utilization rate (zero percent) followed by Eastern Europe and Vietnam (less than one percent). The lack of utilization by refugees from Latin America (two percent) may be related to their concentration in Florida, which has no State-funded General Assistance program (also, discussed in more detail below).

The relationship between employment and receipt of welfare varied across refugee groups. Refugees from Eastern Europe and Vietnam showed the lowest welfare utilization and the highest EPR. Refugees from the former Soviet Union showed the highest welfare utilization and the lowest EPR. Refugees from Africa showed moderate-to-high welfare utilization rates and a relatively low EPR. Finally, Latin America and the Middle East showed moderate-to-high welfare utilization rates with a relatively high EPR.

Employment and Welfare Utilization Rates by State

The 2001 survey also reported welfare utilization and employment rate by State of residence. Table 14 shows the EPR and utilization rates for various types of welfare for twelve States, as well as the nation as a whole. Unlike Table 12, which computes welfare utilization rates for entire households, Table 14 presents data on utilization by individual refugees (including children).

The EPR was generally high where welfare utilization is low and vice versa. Specifically, in States with a high refugee employment rate like Georgia (72 percent), Michigan (69 percent), and Illinois (69 percent), welfare utilization among refugees was below fifteen percent. However, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Oregon, and Massachusetts also had relatively high EPRs but also had relatively high welfare utilization. California, Minnesota, New York, and Washington all had low EPRs and high welfare utilization.

Washington, followed by Minnesota and Pennsylvania, showed the highest proportion of TANF utilization (35, 28, and 21 percent, respectively). Texas, followed by Georgia, Oregon, New York, and Massachusetts, showed the highest proportion of RCA utilization (10, 9, 3, 3, and 3 percent, respectively). New York, followed by Minnesota and California, showed the highest proportion of SSI utilization (14, 9, and 9 percent, respectively). Oregon, followed by New York and California, showed the highest GA utilization (24, 19, and 18 percent, respectively).

It is interesting to note the change in rate of welfare utilization that results from substituting individuals for households as the unit of analysis (the difference between the utilization rates reported in Table 12 and Table 14). Although the utilization rates for TANF, RCA, and GA were close, the utilization rate for individuals receiving SSI was seven percent versus 18 percent for households. Finally, the overall welfare utilization rate for refugee individuals (31 percent) was five percent lower than the total welfare utilization rate for refugee households. As a general rule, measuring welfare utilization by household tends to inflate the utilization rate somewhat because households are counted as dependent on welfare even if only one member of a large family received any type of assistance.

Overall, findings from ORR's 2001 survey indicate (as in previous years) that refugees face significant problems upon arrival in the United States. But, over time, refugees generally find jobs and move toward economic self-sufficiency in their new

country. Data also show that the continued progress of many refugee households toward self-sufficiency is tied to education, English proficiency and such characteristics as age at time of arrival and family support.

TABLE 12 - Public Assistance Utilization of Selected Refugee Groups

Type of Public Assistance	Africa	Eastern Europe	Latin America	Middle East	Other S.E. Asia	Former Soviet Union	Vietnam	All
Cash Assistance
Any Type of Cash Assistance	39.6%	10.6%	38.9%	45.9%	30.0%	61.9%	13.6%	35.9%
TANF	25.1	2.5	21.4	9.4	12.0	12.5	2.4	11.5
RCA	3.3	0.2	8.1	5.3	0.0	3.1	0.0	3.1
SSI	8.4	7.6	12.8	12.6	18.0	38.1	11.1	17.9
General Assistance	2.8	0.6	2.1	23.5	0.0	22.0	0.6	8.6
Non-cash Assistance
Medicaid or RMA	35.7	10.4	33.1	34.4	9.9	62.3	13.7	33.0
Food Stamps	42.5	10.0	45.2	35.0	40.0	59.4	13.2	35.8
Housing	21.8	3.2	3.6	4.0	0.0	21.7	2.3	10.2

Note: Data refer to refugee households in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who arrived in the years 1996-2001. Medicaid and RMA data refer to adult refugees age 16 and over. All other data refer to refugee households and not individuals. Many households receive more than one type of assistance.

TABLE 13 - Public Assistance Utilization of Selected Refugee Groups by Year of Survey

Year Survey Administered	Africa	Eastern Europe	Latin America	Middle East	Other S.E. Asia	Former Soviet Union	Vietnam	All
Any Type of Cash Assistance
2001 Survey	39.6%	10.6%	38.9%	45.9%	30.0%	61.9%	13.6%	35.9%
2000 Survey	38.4	18.1	27.4	29.5	46.0	55.4	22.8	32.7
1999 Survey	44.6	17.5	15.3	21.9	48.6	57.1	22.1	31.9
1998 Survey	37.9	16.3	11.8	24.2	59.6	59.9	38.3	37.5
1997 Survey	53.9	11.9	13.4	31.4	66.1	62.3	40.9	42.1
Medicaid or RMA
2001 Survey	35.7%	10.4%	33.1%	34.4%	9.9%	62.3%	13.7%	33.0%
2000 Survey	24.3	12.7	23.6	19.9	39.2	52.7	10.1	25.5
1999 Survey	33.8	18.4	10.5	20.6	58.5	53.6	13.9	27.7
1998 Survey	38.3	18.8	17.5	34.0	71.6	54.3	28.2	35.6
1997 Survey	49.7	16.6	22.4	45.0	81.0	53.8	27.1	37.8
Food Stamps
2001 Survey	42.5%	10.0%	45.2%	35.0%	40.0%	59.4%	13.2%	35.8%
2000 Survey	28.5	19.5	33.9	14.5	31.2	52.0	1.3	28.5
1999 Survey	40.3	15.3	14.7	18.2	46.2	50.3	10.7	26.7
1998 Survey	43.5	14.3	10.9	21.5	72.9	52.3	27.2	32.7
1997 Survey	56.9	17.2	10.5	47.4	72.8	55.5	36.2	39.7
Public Housing
2001 Survey	21.8%	3.2%	3.6%	4.0%	0.0%	21.7%	2.3%	10.2%
2000 Survey	23.2	6.9	4.0	7.2	21.2	26.5	1.3	12.1
1999 Survey	23.0	4.6	1.8	5.4	39.0	12.8	4.9	8.4
1998 Survey	18.9	0.5	0.7	7.6	26.7	13.6	37.7	16.2
1997 Survey	15.9	13.8	1.5	4.8	26.0	16.9	29.0	16.9

Note: Data refer to refugee households in the five-year sample population consisting of Amerasians, Entrants, and Refugees of all nationalities who were interviewed as a part of the 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1997 surveys. Medicaid and RMA data refer to adult refugees age 16 and over. All other data refer to refugee households and not individuals. Many households received more than one type of assistance.

TABLE 14 - Employment-to-Population Ratio (EPR) and Welfare Dependency for Top Twelve States

			Percent of Individuals (vs. Households) on Welfare
State	Arrivals	EPR	TANF	RCA	SSI	GA	Total**
Florida	(881)	69.4%	12.3%	6.7%	5.2%	3.4%	27.6%
California	(818)	49.9	20.4	0.8	9.0	18.3	48.5
New York	(500)	52.5	6.2	3.1	13.8	19.0	42.1
Washington	(443)	51.8	35.4	2.7	4.3	8.6	51.0
Illinois	(320)	68.6	0.9	0.0	7.5	6.2	14.6
Texas	(213)	64.7	7.8	10.4	5.4	0.0	23.7
Minnesota	(196)	50.7	27.6	0.0	9.2	10.1	46.9
Oregon	(180)	60.2	14.3	3.1	7.1	23.6	48.1
Georgia	(176)	72.4	0.0	8.5	5.8	0.6	14.9
Massachusetts	(164)	63.0	7.5	3.0	7.3	15.2	33.1
Michigan	(141)	68.9	5.7	0.0	5.0	3.1	13.8
Pennsylvania	(133)	66.1	21.2	0.0	6.4	4.0	31.6
Other States	(1,609)	66.6	9.9	1.3	5.2	3.1	19.5
All States	(5,774)	62.0	13.3	2.8	6.8	8.3	31.3

*The State arrival figures are weighted totals.

**The column totals represent percent of individuals who received any combination of TANF, RCA, SSI and/or GA, e.g., if an individual received TANF, RCA, SSI, and GA, he/she is counted four times.

Note: As of October 2001. Not seasonally adjusted. Welfare utilization refers to receipt of public assistance in at least one of the past twelve months. The listed utilization rate for each type of public assistance is the ratio of the number of individuals (including minor children) receiving such aid to the total number of individuals in the five-year sample population residing in that State. Because some refugees have difficulty distinguishing between GA and TANF, some GA utilization may reflect TANF utilization. For data on welfare utilization by household, see Table 12.

Technical Note: The ORR Annual Survey, with interviews conducted by Arrington Dixon and Associates in the fall of 2001, is the 30th in a series conducted since 1975. Until 1993, the survey was limited to Southeast Asian refugees. A random sample was selected from the ORR Refugee Data File. ORR's contractor, Arrington Dixon and Associates, Inc. (ADAI) contacted the family by a letter in English and a second letter in the refugee's native language. If the person sampled was a child, an adult living in the same household was interviewed. Interviews were conducted by telephone in the refugee's native language. The questionnaire and interview procedures were essentially the same between the 1981 survey and the 1992 survey, except that beginning in 1985 the sample was expanded to a five-year population consisting of refugees from Southeast Asia who had arrived over the most recent five years.

In 1993, the survey was expanded beyond the Southeast Asian refugee population to include refugee, Amerasian, and entrant arrivals from all regions of the world. Each year a random sample of new arrivals is identified and interviewed. In addition, refugees who had been included in the previous year's survey-but had not resided in the United States for more than five years-are again contacted and interviewed for the new survey. Thus, the survey continuously tracks the progress of a randomly selected sample of refugees over their initial five years in this country. This permits comparison of refugees arriving in different years, as well as the relative influence of experiential and environmental factors on refugee progress toward self-sufficiency across five years.

For the 2001 survey, 1,221 households were contacted and interviewed. Refugees included in the 2000 survey who had not yet resided in the U.S. for five years were again contacted and interviewed along with a new sample of refugees, Amerasians, and entrants who had arrived between May 1, 2000 and April 30, 2001. Of the 1,338 re-interview cases from the 2000 sample, 987 were contacted and interviewed, and 14 were contacted, but refused to be interviewed. The remaining 337 re-interview cases could not be traced in time to be interviewed. Of the 381 new interview cases, 234 were contacted and interviewed, another two were contacted, but refused to cooperate, and the remaining 145 could not be traced in time to be interviewed. The resulting responses were then weighted according to year of entry and ethnic category.

In addition, of the 337 re-interview cases which could not be traced in time to be interviewed, three died, two moved back to the native country, two were seriously ill and unable to give an interview, and one person had a non-published phone number. Of the 145 new interview cases which could not be traced in time to be interviewed, one died, six moved back to the native country, and two persons had non-published phone number.