The most precious resource: time allocation of immigrants in the U.S

This study offers a comprehensive examination of the time-use patterns of immigrants versus native-born populations in the U.S., drawing from the American Time-Use Survey (ATUS) spanning 2003–2019. We analyze differences in the concentration and diversity of time allocation, looking both at participation likelihood and at the time spent in a disaggregated set of activities. Our findings underscore pronounced differences between immigrants and native-born, with distinct patterns emerging across genders and influenced by socio-economic attributes and linguistic diversity. The data reveals a rather complex assimilation trajectory based on the duration of immigrants’ residency. Male immigrants show assimilation in time-use patterns after approximately 20 years, while female immigrants exhibit a more gradual alignment, with significant convergence occurring after two decades. Immigrants also exhibit heightened gender specialization in time-use, which narrows over time but remains pronounced relative to native-born. Second-generation immigrants display time-use patterns similar to long-term first-generation immigrants, aligning closely with the trend of native-born. Linguistic distance between origin and destination is an important driver of the observed gaps in time-use. This study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of time-use, assimilation processes, and gendered divisions, informing socio-economic and integration policies.