English Language and Low-Skilled Jobs: The Structure of Employment

We use the Bay Area Longitudinal Surveys (BALS) to examine skill requirements, the joint use of English and non-language skills, and wages in low-skilled jobs. Results show that low-skilled jobs—even those open to workers with limited English—require English language skills. Furthermore, most make joint use of English and non-language skills with the ability of any specific English skill set to enhance varying with the job’s specific non-language skill required and industry.