A new Pew Hispanic Center report on new Mexican migrants challenges long-held stereotypes of uneducated and unemployed farm workers.

Earnings potential and family reunification seem to be key factors in the decision to cross the border, rather than a lack of work, said Rakesh Kochhar, the report's author.

Only five percent of those who migrated from Mexico within the last two years were unemployed before they came to the United States, the report found.

The report, "The Economic Transition to America," was released Tuesday by the nonprofit research organization. It is based on a Spanish-language questionnaire completed by 4,836 Mexican migrants who were applying for matricula consular cards.

Fieldwork was conducted in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Raleigh, N.C., and Fresno, Calif., from July 12, 2004, to Jan. 28, 2005. While immigration status wasn't asked, most respondents were believed to lack authorization to work in the U.S.

"Policies aimed at reducing migration pressures by improving economic conditions in Mexico may also need to address factors such as wages, job quality, long-term prospects and perceptions of opportunity," the report said.

The respondents' median weekly earning was $300, which was still more than double what they made in Mexico. Wages were especially low for women, those who don't speak English and those who do not have a government-issued ID.

There are an estimated 6.3 million undocumented Mexicans living in the U.S. The report found new arrivals are better educated than their predecessors and less likely to have a background in agriculture.

Kochhar said the migrant's educational levels are similar to Mexico's overall level, though "they are at the low end of the spectrum if compared to everyone in the U.S."

Only 22 percent reported having a high school diploma, or the equivalent, compared to 17 percent of Mexicans, according to that nation's 2000 census.

It also found migrant workers have a background that resembles the core of Mexico's labor force — two-thirds worked in agriculture, construction, manufacturing or retail trade in Mexico. That is true for 57 percent of the workforce in Mexico.

"I think a lack of documentation doesn't seem to have an effect on employment experience," Kochhar said. "They represent a cross section of the labor force instead of coming from the bottom end."

Pam Perlich, a University of Utah senior research economist, said the findings on workers' experience levels aren't surprising since employers want to find workers with experience. However, she said, before generalizing the results it would be helpful to see some data from Utah.

To view the report, visit www.pewhispanic.org.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com