- The number of foreign-born workers in the United States has increased rapidly in recent years.
- Supporters say it has boosted the economy, while critics point to a border crisis.
- Recent immigrants typically work in construction or food services and earn less than $40,000 a year.
Nearly 3 million more Americans are working than in January 2020, but the number of U.S.-born workers has remained largely unchanged.
This means that immigrants, especially foreign-born workers, have been responsible for most of the US employment growth in recent years. The share of foreign-born workers in the U.S. workforce rose from 16.8% in January 2020 to 19.3% in March 2024, according to a Business Insider analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Immigration advocates say these newcomers have provided a major boost to the U.S. economy and have not taken away American jobs. — A common argument made by people who oppose immigration. As many baby boomers reach retirement age and young people have fewer children than ever before, immigration may be the best way to maintain and grow America's labor force levels.
But some argue that immigrants are not only driving down wages and driving up home prices, but are actually taking jobs away from Americans. Many also have broader concerns about how some immigrants come to the United States. Last December, illegal border crossings from Mexico led to a record number of arrests, and cities like New York and Chicago are struggling to keep up with the influx of migrants into their cities.
Who are the immigrant workers who came to the U.S. in recent years? A Goldman Sachs report released in April and based on an analysis of government data found that they are likely young men and working in one of three industries. They say they are employed, make less than $40,000 a year, and live in one of four states.
The typical recent immigrant is more likely to earn a college degree than the U.S.-born population
Goldman Sachs report says much of recent immigration growth to the usa Associated with the increase in “illegal immigrants,” foreign-born people entering the United States A person who is not a legal resident of the United States.
Many of these people come from South America, Central America and Mexico, and the number of migrants from these regions could triple in 2023 compared to the pre-pandemic average, the report says. It is said to be expensive.
In recent years, more than half of immigrants have settled in one of four states: Florida, California, Texas, and New York. The next most popular states were New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Georgia. Loose immigration policies and proximity to the southern border influence migrant destinations.
Among immigrants 16 and older who came to the U.S. within the past three years, nearly 90% were between 16 and 54, compared with 62% of the U.S.-born population.
Approximately 64% of recent immigrants were working or looking for work, compared to 62% of U.S.-born workers. The unemployment rate for recent immigrants was 6.3%, while the unemployment rate for U.S.-born workers was 3.8%.
Among recent immigrants age 16 and older, approximately 55% were male, compared with 46% of U.S.-born individuals in the same age group.
Recent immigrants were much less likely to have completed high school than the U.S.-born population. Almost a quarter of recent immigrants over the age of 16 have less than a high school education, compared to 10% of the U.S.-born population.
However, recent immigrants were more likely to have a college degree than native-born Americans. More than 39% of recent immigrants age 16 and older had a bachelor's or advanced degree, compared to 34% of the U.S.-born population. The biggest gap was in the share of workers with only “some college” education, about 13% for recent immigrants and 28% for the U.S.-born population.
The typical recent immigrant is likely to have an annual income of less than $40,000.
The most common industries for recent immigrant workers were construction, professional and business, and accommodation and food services.
More than 16% of recent immigrants worked in the construction industry, compared to 6.4% of U.S.-born workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most common jobs in this industry are construction workers, carpenters, and electricians.
About 17% of immigrants worked in professional or business industries, compared to 12% of U.S.-born workers. Some of the most common jobs in this industry include janitors, security guards, and landscaping and grounds maintenance workers.
Approximately 12% of recent immigrants worked in the lodging and food services industry, compared to 7% of U.S.-born workers. Some of the most common jobs in this industry include “food preparation and serving workers,” waiters and waitresses, cooks, and hotel clerks.
The typical recent immigrant worker earned about $39,000 a year in 2023, while the typical U.S.-born worker earned $54,000, according to Goldman Sachs.
Have you recently moved to the US and found a job? If so, please contact this reporter. jzikula@businessinsider.com.
