What We Learned from PIAAC: Skills and Economic Outcomes of U.S. Immigrants and Their U.S.-Born Offspring

The United States is home to nearly 50 million immigrants who, along with their U.S.-born children, represent more than a quarter of the working-age population. Data from the Program for the International Assessment for Adult Competencies (PIAAC) on adult literacy, numeracy, and digital competencies offer a window into the skills profile of this group of Americans.

This report brings together the results of 24 reports and research studies that use PIAAC and other datasets to explore the skills and education of U.S. immigrants and their working-age children. Collectively, these studies shed light on the economic outcomes of immigrants (e.g., employment and income), the significant diversity within the immigrant population, and the policies that may reduce their barriers to success in the knowledge-based economy.