1 in 6 American Workers is Foreign Born

A report from the United States Census Bureau revealed that 1 in every 6 workers in the United States is foreign born. It’s the highest proportion since immigration levels were reduced in the 1920s.

In 1910, 21 percent of workers in the United States were foreign born before dropping to a 20th century low of just 5 percent in 1970. The proportion has steadily risen since then and currently stands at 16 percent.

California has the highest proportion of foreign born workers with 35 percent of the state’s workforce being foreign born. New York, New Jersey and Nevada also have proportions at or greater than 25 percent.

The Census Bureau also found that foreign born workers are more likely to be less educated or highly educated, so they hold a greater concentration of jobs in low-skilled and highly-skilled fields. Foreign workers tend to hold advanced degrees or lack a high school diploma, so there impact is on the higher and lower ends of the job market.

For more information, see the Census Bureau’s website.