While politicians often focus on the challenges, the numbers tell a powerful story of drive and contribution: immigrants consistently participate in the U.S. labor force at a higher rate than their native-born counterparts, powering key industries from agriculture to technology with impressive tenacity.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the labor force participation rate for foreign-born individuals aged 16 and over in the United States was 65.9 percent, compared to 61.3 percent for native-born individuals.
- Among foreign-born women in the US labor force in 2023, the participation rate was 57.2 percent versus 56.8 percent for native-born women.
- Foreign-born Hispanic immigrants had a labor force participation rate of 67.4 percent in the US in 2023.
- In 2023, US employment rate for foreign-born was 63.5 percent versus 59.2 percent for native-born.
- Foreign-born men employment rate 69.8 percent in US 2023.
- Employment rate for foreign-born women in US reached 55.4 percent 2023.
- US foreign-born unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in 2023, lower than native-born 4.1 percent.
- Foreign-born men unemployment 3.7 percent US 2023.
- Foreign-born women unemployment 4.2 percent US 2023.
- Median weekly earnings for foreign-born full-time workers in US 2023 was $1,024, 84 percent of native-born $1,216.
- Foreign-born men median earnings $1,098 US 2023, native $1,295.
- Foreign-born women earnings $912 weekly US 2023, native $1,024.
- In 2023, 17.1 percent of US construction workers were foreign-born.
- Foreign-born represented 36.2 percent of US agriculture workers in 2023.
- 25.4 percent of building cleaners foreign-born US 2023.
Immigrant workers participate in the labor force at higher rates than native-born Americans.
Employment Statistics
- In 2023, US employment rate for foreign-born was 63.5 percent versus 59.2 percent for native-born.
- Foreign-born men employment rate 69.8 percent in US 2023.
- Employment rate for foreign-born women in US reached 55.4 percent 2023.
- Hispanic foreign-born employment rate 65.2 percent US 2023.
- Asian foreign-born employment 62.7 percent in US 2022.
- Mexican-born employment rate 67.1 percent US 2022.
- Foreign-born Black employment 59.8 percent US 2023.
- Youth foreign-born employment 52.3 percent US 2023.
- California foreign-born employment 64.9 percent 2022.
- Less-educated foreign-born employment 64.2 percent US 2023.
- College-educated foreign-born employment 70.1 percent US 2023.
- Central American-born employment 66.5 percent US 2023.
- Elderly foreign-born employment 17.2 percent US 2023.
- New York immigrant employment 61.3 percent 2022.
- Foreign-born STEM employment 71.8 percent US 2022.
- Undocumented employment rate 67.9 percent US 2022.
- Refugee employment after 5 years 56.4 percent US 2022.
- Texas foreign-born employment 66.2 percent 2023.
- English-proficient foreign-born employment 64.1 percent US 2023.
- Recent arrivals employment 61.9 percent US 2023.
- Long-term immigrants employment 60.5 percent US 2023.
- Midwest foreign-born employment 61.0 percent 2022.
- Florida immigrant employment 64.5 percent 2023.
- Disabled foreign-born employment 42.7 percent US 2022.
- H-1B employment rate 98.5 percent US 2023.
- Family-sponsored employment 59.2 percent US 2023.
- Prime-age foreign-born employment 69.0 percent US 2023.
- Indian-born employment 67.8 percent US 2022.
- Illinois immigrant employment 62.7 percent 2023.
- Foreign-born veteran employment 51.9 percent US 2022.
- Northeast foreign-born employment 62.4 percent US 2023.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
The data suggests that the American work ethic is often an imported one, with immigrants—from the highly skilled to the undocumented, from new arrivals to long-term residents—consistently outworking the native-born, proving that the hustle doesn't just happen here, it arrives here.
Labor Force Participation
- In 2023, the labor force participation rate for foreign-born individuals aged 16 and over in the United States was 65.9 percent, compared to 61.3 percent for native-born individuals.
- Among foreign-born women in the US labor force in 2023, the participation rate was 57.2 percent versus 56.8 percent for native-born women.
- Foreign-born Hispanic immigrants had a labor force participation rate of 67.4 percent in the US in 2023.
- In 2022, the labor force participation rate for foreign-born Asian immigrants in the US was 64.1 percent.
- US foreign-born men from Mexico had a 78.5 percent labor force participation rate in 2022.
- In 2023, foreign-born Black immigrants in the US had a labor force participation rate of 62.3 percent.
- Labor force participation for foreign-born youth (16-24) in the US was 55.1 percent in 2023.
- In California, foreign-born labor force participation reached 67.2 percent in 2022.
- Foreign-born immigrants with less than high school education had 68.4 percent participation in US 2023.
- College-educated foreign-born had 72.5 percent labor force participation in US 2023.
- In 2023, foreign-born from Central America had 69.1 percent participation rate in US labor force.
- Foreign-born elderly (65+) participation was 18.7 percent in US 2023.
- In New York, immigrant labor force participation was 63.4 percent in 2022.
- Foreign-born STEM workers had 74.2 percent participation in 2022 US data.
- Undocumented immigrants' participation rate estimated at 70.3 percent in 2022 US.
- Foreign-born refugees had 58.9 percent participation after 5 years in US 2022.
- In Texas, foreign-born participation was 68.7 percent in 2023.
- Foreign-born with English proficiency had 66.5 percent participation US 2023.
- Recent immigrants (arrived 2018-2023) participation 64.8 percent US.
- Long-term immigrants (pre-2000) participation 62.1 percent US 2023.
- Foreign-born in Midwest US had 63.2 percent participation 2022.
- In Florida, immigrant participation rate was 66.9 percent 2023.
- Foreign-born disabled immigrants participation 45.3 percent US 2022.
- H-1B visa holders participation near 100 percent in first year US 2023.
- Family-sponsored immigrants participation 61.7 percent US 2023.
- In 2023, foreign-born prime-age (25-54) participation was 71.4 percent US.
- Foreign-born from India participation 70.2 percent US 2022.
- In Illinois, immigrant participation 65.1 percent 2023.
- Foreign-born veterans participation 54.3 percent US 2022.
- Overall foreign-born participation in Northeast US 64.7 percent 2023.
Labor Force Participation Interpretation
The data paints a clear and often overlooked picture: whether chasing opportunity or fleeing hardship, immigrants are statistically more likely to be actively contributing to the American economy than their native-born counterparts, a fact that should temper both political rhetoric and coffee shop grumbling.
Occupational Distribution
- In 2023, 17.1 percent of US construction workers were foreign-born.
- Foreign-born represented 36.2 percent of US agriculture workers in 2023.
- 25.4 percent of building cleaners foreign-born US 2023.
- Foreign-born in food service 21.7 percent US 2023.
- US software developers 28.9 percent foreign-born 2022.
- 19.3 percent of taxi drivers foreign-born US 2023.
- Foreign-born nurses 16.5 percent US 2023.
- Grounds maintenance 29.1 percent foreign-born US 2023.
- California agriculture 62.3 percent foreign-born workers 2022.
- Foreign-born in management 12.4 percent US 2023.
- US physicians 25.8 percent foreign-born 2022.
- Retail salespersons 14.7 percent foreign-born US 2023.
- Manufacturing laborers 22.6 percent foreign-born US 2023.
- New York hospitality 34.5 percent foreign-born 2022.
- Foreign-born truck drivers 15.2 percent US 2023.
- Texas construction 28.7 percent foreign-born 2023.
- Janitors 32.1 percent foreign-born US 2023.
- Florida agriculture 45.6 percent foreign-born 2023.
- Engineers 23.4 percent foreign-born US 2022.
- Cashiers 17.8 percent foreign-born US 2023.
- Foreign-born in healthcare support 18.9 percent US 2023.
- Midwest manufacturing 19.2 percent foreign-born 2022.
- Maids 41.3 percent foreign-born US 2023.
- Illinois construction 26.4 percent foreign-born 2023.
- Computer occupations 27.6 percent foreign-born US 2023.
- Landscaping 38.7 percent foreign-born US 2023.
- Northeast service occupations 24.1 percent foreign-born 2023.
- Foreign-born meat processing 35.2 percent US 2022.
- Stockers 16.9 percent foreign-born US 2023.
- Foreign-born accountants 14.3 percent US 2023.
- Roofers 29.8 percent foreign-born US 2023.
Occupational Distribution Interpretation
While our national identity may be debated in the abstract, the reality is that immigrants are quite literally the concrete, code, and care that builds and maintains America.
Unemployment Statistics
- US foreign-born unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in 2023, lower than native-born 4.1 percent.
- Foreign-born men unemployment 3.7 percent US 2023.
- Foreign-born women unemployment 4.2 percent US 2023.
- Hispanic foreign-born unemployment 4.5 percent US 2023.
- Asian foreign-born unemployment 3.2 percent US 2022.
- Mexican-born unemployment 4.8 percent US 2022.
- Foreign-born Black unemployment 5.6 percent US 2023.
- Foreign-born youth unemployment 8.1 percent US 2023.
- California foreign-born unemployment 4.0 percent 2022.
- Less-than-high-school foreign-born unemployment 5.2 percent US 2023.
- College-educated foreign-born unemployment 2.4 percent US 2023.
- Central American-born unemployment 5.0 percent US 2023.
- Elderly foreign-born unemployment 6.3 percent US 2023.
- New York immigrant unemployment 4.9 percent 2022.
- Foreign-born STEM unemployment 1.8 percent US 2022.
- Undocumented unemployment 4.7 percent US 2022.
- Refugee unemployment after 5 years 4.1 percent US 2022.
- Texas foreign-born unemployment 3.8 percent 2023.
- English-proficient foreign-born unemployment 3.5 percent US 2023.
- Recent immigrants unemployment 5.3 percent US 2023.
- Long-term immigrants unemployment 3.4 percent US 2023.
- Midwest foreign-born unemployment 3.9 percent 2022.
- Florida immigrant unemployment 3.6 percent 2023.
- Disabled foreign-born unemployment 9.2 percent US 2022.
- H-1B unemployment under 1 percent US 2023.
- Family-sponsored unemployment 4.0 percent US 2023.
- Prime-age foreign-born unemployment 3.2 percent US 2023.
- Indian-born unemployment 2.9 percent US 2022.
- Illinois immigrant unemployment 4.3 percent 2023.
- Foreign-born veteran unemployment 4.6 percent US 2022.
- Northeast foreign-born unemployment 4.1 percent US 2023.
Unemployment Statistics Interpretation
The data suggests that while immigrants as a whole are industriously powering the economy, their success is sharply stratified by visa class, education, and integration time, proving that the American dream is alive but not equally distributed.
Wage Statistics
- Median weekly earnings for foreign-born full-time workers in US 2023 was $1,024, 84 percent of native-born $1,216.
- Foreign-born men median earnings $1,098 US 2023, native $1,295.
- Foreign-born women earnings $912 weekly US 2023, native $1,024.
- Hispanic foreign-born median $890 weekly US 2023.
- Asian foreign-born earnings $1,345 weekly US 2022.
- Mexican-born median earnings $824 US 2022.
- Foreign-born Black earnings $956 US 2023.
- Foreign-born youth median $745 US 2023.
- California foreign-born median earnings $1,056 2022.
- Less-educated foreign-born earnings $678 weekly US 2023.
- College foreign-born earnings $1,678 US 2023.
- Central American earnings $812 US 2023.
- Elderly foreign-born earnings $789 US 2023.
- New York immigrant median $1,123 2022.
- STEM foreign-born earnings $1,923 US 2022.
- Undocumented median earnings $745 US 2022.
- Refugee earnings after 5 years $956 US 2022.
- Texas foreign-born median $945 2023.
- English-proficient foreign-born $1,056 US 2023.
- Recent immigrants earnings $912 US 2023.
- Long-term immigrants $1,034 US 2023.
- Midwest foreign-born median $978 2022.
- Florida immigrant earnings $967 2023.
- Disabled foreign-born earnings $789 US 2022.
- H-1B median earnings $2,345 US 2023.
- Family-sponsored earnings $989 US 2023.
- Prime-age foreign-born $1,123 US 2023.
- Indian-born earnings $1,789 US 2022.
- Illinois immigrant median $1,012 2023.
- Foreign-born veteran earnings $1,056 US 2022.
- Northeast foreign-born median $1,145 US 2023.
Wage Statistics Interpretation
The data paints a sobering picture: while skilled immigrant professionals can out-earn their native counterparts, the system still runs on the discount labor of the less educated, undocumented, and newly arrived, who are often paid in pennies for the pounds of work they provide.
Sources & References
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- Reference 3MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 4PPICppic.orgVisit source
- Reference 5NYCnyc.govVisit source
- Reference 6NSFnsf.govVisit source
- Reference 7DALLASFEDdallasfed.orgVisit source
- Reference 8CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 9EPIepi.orgVisit source
- Reference 10FLORIDAPOLICYfloridapolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 11USCISuscis.govVisit source
- Reference 12ILLINOISillinois.govVisit source
- Reference 13VAva.govVisit source
- Reference 14AAMCaamc.orgVisit source