Differential Employment Patterns for Citizens and Non-Citizens in Science and Engineering in the United States: Minting and Competitive Effects

ABSTRACT The consequences of the heavy inflow of foreign talent for U.S. scientists and engineers over the period 1973‐1997 are examined using data from the Survey of Doctorate Recipients. Of particular interest is whether non‐citizens trained in the United States have displaced citizens from jobs in science and engineering (S&E). Using a novel adaptation of the shift‐share technique, it is shown that citizen S&E doctorates have fewer jobs in S&E and fewer academic jobs than their non‐citizen counterparts for two reasons: the citizen doctoral population has experienced slower growth than the non‐citizen doctoral population, and citizen S&E doctorates have been displaced. Whether the displacement observed was a voluntary response of citizens to the lure of better opportunities elsewhere or an involuntary response indicative of having been pushed out by foreign talent remains to be determined.