immigrant workforce

iwin research on immigrant workers and their families is an emerging area examining job and employment conditions' effect on workers and their families.

proyecto de salud de los trabajadores del campo: latino farmworker health project

The purpose of this pilot project is to explore how certain aspects of the work environment impact occupational health outcomes for Latino farmworkers in Central Kentucky. Specifically, this study will:

1) explore the physical and psychological aspects of the work environment for Latino workers in small-scale crop and horse production worksites in Central Kentucky including such aspects as social support, supervisory practices, job design, and job demands and stressors.

2) determine which of the above factors contribute to occupational injury and illness among Latino farmworkers.

If you have questions about the project or know of workers who fit this study’s criteria, please contact Jess Miller by email or at 859.323.0587.

immigrant workers: work-life circumstances & contributory factors associated with poverty

Prinicpal Investigator: Mamta U. Ojha, MSW
Co-Principal Investigator: Jennifer Swanberg, Ph.D


Over the last three decades the number of immigrants living in United States has grown exponentially. Immigrant workers comprise a significant percentage of the U.S. labor force. Using data from the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce, we examine the quality of life on and off the job for working immigrants. Specifically, this project will:

1) provide a descriptive analysis of the job conditions, family characteristics and care giving responsibilities of immigrants in the U.S. labor force,
2) identify whether the job conditions, family characteristics and care giving responsibilities are different for employed immigrants who live in households above or below 250% of the poverty guideline; and
3) determine the job, family, and care giving factors associated with poverty status.

presentation slides available

This project is supported by funding from the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. For more information, please contact Mamta U. Ojha.