A recent report has highlighted that despite the significant increase in immigration, both legal and illegal, overseen by President Biden, less than half of the newcomers have secured employment. The report, released by the Center for Immigration Studies and based on Census Bureau data, reveals that only 46% of immigrants who arrived in the past two years are currently employed. This challenges the notion promoted by immigration advocates that new arrivals are vital for the U.S. economy.
According to the report, while some immigrants are actively seeking employment, a majority, including the elderly, children, and caregivers, are not participating in the labor force. The authors of the report, Steven A. Camarota and Karen Zeigler, emphasize that immigration not only adds workers but also non-workers who rely on the labor of others for support.
As of March 2024, the U.S. had 51.6 million immigrants, marking a 5.1 million increase from March 2022, the largest two-year increase in history. Immigrants now account for 15.6% of the total U.S. population, a record high. If current trends persist, the U.S. population could surpass 18% by the end of the decade.
The debate over immigration’s impact on the economy continues, with the Congressional Budget Office suggesting that while immigration contributes to overall economic growth, it can also have mixed effects on individual workers. Those at higher economic levels tend to benefit more from increased immigration, while lower-income workers may face challenges, especially during periods of high illegal immigration.
The report also highlights the issue of unemployment among immigrants from Latin America, particularly those without a college education, which has remained steady at 10% for several decades. Efforts by the Biden administration to provide work permits for newly arrived illegal immigrants aim to reduce reliance on government assistance, though the effectiveness of such measures remains debated.
Looking specifically at immigrants of working age (16 to 64), only 58% are employed, compared to 72% of the total U.S. population. However, the report suggests that employment rates among new arrivals are expected to improve over time as they settle into their new environment.
The data also reveal significant growth in immigration from nontraditional source countries, including the Middle East and China, with over 650,000 net gains from the Middle East and 470,000 from China since 2021.
The report concludes by noting that the Census Bureau’s data may underestimate the true situation, as immigrants often resist participating in government surveys.