What percent of jobs in the US are held by immigrants?
Data updated May 22, 2024
About 17.4% of jobs in 2022. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents, including those who became US citizens, are authorized to work in the US, or are undocumented residents.
Showing data for
In 2022
3 in 17
employed workers were immigrants
In 2022
17.4%
of employed workers were immigrants
While immigrants hold 17.4% of jobs, they make up 16.3% of the total working-age population in the US. This indicates a slightly higher employment rate than expected. The working-age population includes everyone aged 16 and above.
Immigrant percentage of employed workers in the US
Immigrant participation in the workforce varies across industries. In the US, the largest gap between foreign-born and native-born workers was in the construction industry, where 9.9% of the foreign-born working-age population were employed compared to 6.3% of native-born workers.
Percentage of employed population in United States, by sector of employment (2022)
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States vary widely in immigrant workforce participation. California had the highest at 32.6%, while Mississippi had the lowest at 2.9%.
Immigrant percentage of employed workers (2022)
Across the US
Immigrant percentage of employed workers, by state in 2022
| 1. | California | 32.6% |
| 2. | New Jersey | 29.2% |
| 3. | New York | 27.3% |
| 4. | Florida | 27.0% |
| 5. | Nevada | 23.9% |
| 6. | Massachusetts | 21.8% |
| 7. | Texas | 21.7% |
| 8. | Maryland | 21.1% |
| 9. | Hawaii | 20.9% |
| 10. | Washington | 19.6% |
