Age differences in attitudes towards immigrants

Natives’ attitudes towards immigrants play a crucial role in shaping a nation’s immigration policies and social cohesion. Using data from 11 Asian countries in the 2018–2021 World Values Survey, we investigate age differences in attitudes towards immigrants. We find that anti-immigrant sentiment increases markedly with age, with those aged 65 and older expressing significantly more negative views than younger adults. Labour market concerns are a key moderator: older natives in precarious jobs or unemployment – especially in sectors with high shares of foreign workers – exhibit stronger opposition to immigration. Manual skills are positively associated with pro-immigrant views, while communication skills do not significantly influence attitudes in most age groups. Regarding socioeconomic and ideological factors, higher education and religiosity promote more positive views among older adults, while social capital has varying effects across different age groups. These results highlight the central role of labour market vulnerabilities and competition in shaping immigration preferences across generations.