What percent of jobs in the US are held by immigrants?
About 17.9% of jobs in 2023. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents, including those who became US citizens, are authorized to work in the US, or are undocumented residents.
Data updated February 21, 2025
In 2023
3 in 17
employed workers were immigrants
In 2023
17.9%
of employed workers were immigrants
While immigrants hold 17.9% of jobs, they make up 16.8% of the total working-age population in the US. This indicates a higher employment rate than expected. The working-age population includes everyone aged 16 and above.
In the US, 17.9% of employed workers were immigrants in 2023.
Immigrant participation in the workforce varies across industries. In the United States, the largest gap between foreign-born and native-born workers was in the educational/health services industry, where 20.2% of the foreign-born working-age population were employed compared to 24.2% of native-born workers.
The percentage of employed people varies between different sectors in the US.
Percentage of employed population in 2023
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States vary widely in immigrant workforce participation. Out of 42 states, along with Puerto Rico and Washington, DC that have annual data on foreign-born workers, California had the highest share at 33.3%. Mississippi had the lowest at 3.4%.
In 2023, California had the highest percentage of immigrants in the workforce.
Across the US
Immigrant percentage of employed workers, by state in 2023
| 1. | California | 33.3% |
| 2. | New Jersey | 30.2% |
| 3. | New York | 27.9% |
| 4. | Florida | 27.7% |
| 5. | Nevada | 23.9% |
| 6. | Hawaii | 23.1% |
| 7. | Texas | 22.6% |
| 8. | Maryland | 21.9% |
| 9. | Massachusetts | 21.8% |
| 10. | Washington | 20.0% |
Change location to see this data for another state or metro area.
Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
US Census Bureau
American Community Survey (ACS)
