A Survival Analysis on United States Labor-Force and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Policy Repeals

Abstract

It is an undeniable fact that the economy of the United States of America has very much benefited directly and indirectly from the pooled skilled labor force of both legal and illegal immigrants. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to compare and contrast the survival function of the United States labor-force as well as employed DACA recipients’ and, in the process, fit a Cox Proportional Hazard (Cox PH) model to the sampled data. The study utilized secondary and extant sources of immigration data on DACA immigrants between 2012 and 2015, coupled with labor-force data from 1995 to 2015. Additionally, the study adopted the Pearson’s chi-square test statistic to evaluate the null hypothesis. As part of the results, the study found that, given the assumption of the same time limit, the U.S.A.  labor force has about 78% survival within the local (U.S.A) economy, with the absence of the labor force from DACA recipients. However, when the DACA employees are added, under the same conditions, the survival of the labor force grew up to 90%, with all other things being equal. Also, the total U.S.A. labor force is more likely to experience the total risk (or cumulative hazard) rate of about 30% within the local economy. However, out of the 30% cumulative hazard rate, which is more likely to be experienced by the entire economy, about 12% will be borne by the fewer DACA employees, who are yet to face deportation. The study has the conclusion that, for the continuous growth and survival of the labor force of the United States of America, there is the need for continuity and expansion of the DACA policy.

Keywords: Immigrants, Labor-Force, Survival Analysis, Hazard Rate, Employment, & DACA.