Social Capital and Employment Outcomes of Zimbabwean Immigrants in the United States

Understanding of cultural and contextual factors that may influence settlement is vital for successful immigrant integration. This study explored the effect of social capital on employment outcomes of Zimbabwean immigrants (N = 103) in the USA using a triangulation mixed methods design. Participants completed a survey that assessed their social capital and employment outcomes. Twelve participants were selected from those who had completed the survey to participate in in-depth interviews that asked about their life experiences. The results of a multiple logistic regression analysis identified network diversity as a significant inverse predictor of underemployment (p = 0.04) controlling for educational attainment. Qualitative results elaborated on how social capital contributed to or minimized underemployment. Implications for practice are also suggested.