The Occupational Attainments of the Five Major Dialect Groups in Hong Kong

The Occupational Attainments of the Five Major Dialect Groups in Hong Kong This paper argues that "dialect group" is still a relevant and pertinent socio-economic variable in determining the economic outcomes of immigrants, at least that of the first-generation immigrants. Our data show that Chiu Chau immigrants were on average the most successful while Fukien immigrants were the most disadvantaged in the labour market. Immigrants from Shanghai and Sze Yap were the most entrepreneurially oriented groups. As for the sources of economic disparity, our models partially validated the human capital theory because educational qualifications were significant variables, in fact the most significant variables in determining an individual's chance of accessing the salariat class and avoiding being found in the non-skilled and unemployed category. On the other hand, our models found that "the economic opportunities immigrants encountered on arrival" and "the length of stay" exerted no direct significant effects on immigrants' economic outcomes.