The Occupational Cost of Being Illegal in the United States: Legal Status, Job Hazards, and Compensating Differentials.

Abstract in brief

• This study investigates how undocumented immigrant workers in the U.S. tend to work in more hazardous jobs, facing higher risks like physical strain and exposure to heights, but they are less exposed to the most dangerous environments compared to native workers.
• It finds that undocumented workers receive little or no additional pay for taking on risky tasks, indicating that their legal status affects both their job risks and the financial rewards for working in dangerous conditions.
• Overall, the research highlights that legal status influences not only the types of jobs immigrants hold but also how workers are compensated for occupational hazards.]