Labor market competition theories explaining anti-immigrant attitudes have received limited empirical validation in recent literature. Rather than focusing on migrant supply, this research proposes a new theory centered on job availability and skill specificity.

Key findings indicate that individuals with low transferable skills perceive heightened job insecurity when migrants compete for similar positions. Cross-classified, longitudinal, difference-in-differences analyses reveal skill specificity as a strong driver of anti-immigrant sentiment across education levels 🏗️.

Contrary to previous research, our models demonstrate that economic competition concerns significantly shape attitudes among highly educated individuals ✅. By shifting focus from actual labor supply to potential job demand competition with migrants, we provide new insights into immigration debates.