Moving up or Going Down? Examining the Association between Occupational Mobility and Self-Esteem Among Latinx Migrant Workers in the United States

Background/Purpose: In 2023, Latinx individuals made up 19% of the U.S. workforce and contributed $3.2 trillion to the nation’s GDP. Despite their significant economic contributions, many Latinx immigrants encounter barriers to upward occupational mobility—such as low wages, underemployment, and difficulties in credential recognition—which often push them into marginalized sectors of the economy. This downward occupational mobility pattern can erode self-esteem, a key psychosocial factor that influences both physical and mental health. Although prior research has largely focused on occupational exposures, the impact of occupational mobility on psychosocial well-being remains underexplored. Our study addresses this gap by investigating the relationship between occupational mobility and self-esteem among Latinx migrant workers in the U.S., hypothesizing that individuals who achieve upward mobility will report higher self-esteem than those experiencing downward mobility.

Methods: This study analyzed data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) and its Sociocultural Ancillary Study, using a sample of employed Latinx adults with migration backgrounds in the U.S. (N=1,905). Self-esteem was measured with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (range: 10–40; α = 0.807). Occupational mobility was assessed based on changes in job-related prestige and job-related income (i.e., whether the current job in the U.S. offered higher, lower, or unchanged income/prestige relative to past jobs in their country of origin). Covariates included age (years), gender (male, female), annual household income (<$30,000 or ≥$30,000), education (less than high school vs. high school or beyond), and subjective social status (0–10 scale). Weighted analyses were conducted in SPSS. Welch’s ANOVA was employed for bivariate results, and multiple linear regressions were constructed to assess whether occupational mobility predicted self-esteem while controlling for covariates. Assumptions for the tests were verified for accuracy.

Results: Participants had an average age of 49.80 years (SD=10.91); most earned under $30,000 annually (75.5%) and had at least a high school education (75%). Self-esteem scores were lower-to-average (M=18.40, SD=3.91). Welch’s tests revealed significant differences in self-esteem based on changes in job prestige (F(2, 1236.26)=22.07, p<0.001) and changes in comparable income (F(2, 350.37)=6.124, p=0.002). Alternatively, in the multiple linear regression model (R²= .058, F(7, 1897)=16.74, p=<0.001), decreases in job prestige in the U.S. from the job held in the country of origin predicted lower self-esteem (β= -0.295, p=0.011, SE=0.116), while changes in income did not predict changes in self-esteem (β= 0.007, p=0.973, SE=0.191). Additionally, household income and education were positively associated with self-esteem, whereas subjective social status was negatively associated with self-esteem.

Conclusions/Implications: Our findings revealed that occupational mobility—specifically changes in job prestige after migration—has a significant relationship to self-esteem among Latinx migrant workers in the U.S. A decline in job prestige post-migration is linked to lower self-esteem, whereas similar changes in income are not, implying that perceived occupational status matters more than immediate financial gains. These insights underscore the need for policies that recognize foreign credentials and foster upward mobility, along with improved access to education and financial resources to enhance psychosocial well-being among this community.