Foreign-born workers now account for nearly 17 percent of the total U.S. labor force, marking the highest level in 20 years, according to a
new Labor Department report.
Last year, the nation's labor force had about 26.3 million workers who were born in other countries, reports
The Wall Street Journal.
The numbers have gone up and down over the years, marking 11 percent in 1996; nearly 16 percent in 2007, and then falling during the recession.
The nation's steady economic growth is drawing in more immigrants, but the labor force born in the United States is growing slowly, the report shows,
The report, however, did not distinguish whether the foreign-born workers were in the country illegally or legally, nor did it track their home nations. However, overall, Hispanics made up 48.8 percent of the foreign-born labor force, with Asians accounting for 24.1 percent.
But while the Labor Department's figures put foreign-born workers at a high level, a
Pew Research Center report says the number of illegal immigrants has been stable for the past five years, remaining at 11.3 percent after growing rapidly for years.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department report shows that foreign-born workers participate in the nation's workforce more than native born, by 65.2 percent versus 62.2 percent. The report indicates there are more native-born workers between the ages of 16 to 44, while there are more foreign born workers ages 45 and older.
The foreign-born workers also marked a slightly lower unemployment rate, 4.9 percent compared to 5.4 percent, the report showed.
The workers from other countries were also more likely to be employed in service occupations, construction, transportation, and moving materials, while native-born workers were more likely in professional occupations, management, sales, and office work.
Also, native-born workers earned more money with an average weekly wage of $837, compared to $681 for foreign-born workers.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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