This article examines the 1980 earnings and earnings attainment process of Afro-Caribbean immigrants relative to Afro-Americans, native-born whites and foreign-born whites. Controlling for gender, the comparisons consider Caribbean Islanders as a whole and disaggregated by nation of origin. The results indicate that, in 1980 at least, fact did not justify the opinion that any West Indian subgroup had higher gross or net earnings than native-born blacks. Rather, a few non-English speaking subgroups fared worse. In addition, regardless of national background, Caribbean-born men experienced vast earnings disparities relative to white men. This was not the case for West Indian women, whose net earnings were, at minimum, equivalent to those of white women. Further analysis suggests that, for most Caribbean groups, West Indian background adds little to an understanding of the earnings attainment process that cannot be obtained from other measurable characteristics. -Author

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Studies Research Methodology Comparative Studies cultural anthropology Negro Americas Afro-Caribbeans native-born blacks income variation earnings attainment process economics population Migrants demography Caucasian developing country Population Dynamics Developing Countries Ethnic Groups ethnic group Developed Countries comparative study socioeconomic status Central America USA Residence Characteristics United States Cultural Background income North America social status Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics Western Hemisphere Caribbean Region Caribbean Whites Article migration international migration developed country population and population related phenomena Demographic Factors research Emigration and Immigration Economic Factors Transients and Migrants social class Northern America Blacks Native-born Population Characteristics Nationality Culture Place Of Birth immigrants