Jewish immigrants to the United States hold the highest record for permanent residence in the country among all racial groups of the immigrant population. This fact was brought out in a report entitled “Migration and Business Cycles”, which gives the results of an investigation of the ebb and flow of labor in relation to the varying demands of industry. The figures were compiled by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
In general, the report states, the percentage of permanent residents is high for the race designated by the Government as the Hebrews and the races of Northern and Western Europe; and low for the races of Southern and Eastern. Europe, except the Hebrews. Though the incoming South Italians far exceeded in number the immigrants of any other race, the net immigration for this race was only 44% of arriving immigrants in the fiscal years 1908 and 1923; while it was almost 95% for the Hebrews, 89% for the Irish, and over 80% for the Germans.
The figures show that the three leading races in number of immigrants were designated by the Government as the South Italians, Hebrews and Poles, in the order named. For all races, the net immigration–immigration less emigration–equals about 65% of gross immigration.
“In many instances entrance in this country into the ranks of common labor is not necessarily due to incapacity for more skilled occupations, but in part to the inability or failure of the immigrant to capitalize his past experience.
“Thousands of former farmers and agricultural workers find their way into factory, mine, or construction camp; and many skilled handicraftsmen, handicapped by differences in language and different methods of production, find an inadequate market for their specialized skill and drift into the ranks of the unskilled or at most semi-skilled,” the report states.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
