(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Immigrant share of the Labor Force reached a record high of 18.6% in 2023, according to an Economic Policy Institute analysis of Current Population Survey (CPS) data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as anti-immigration advocates have been out in full force, using this as a talking point for deeply misguided commentary and analysis that roughly translates to “Immigrants are taking all our jobs.” 

The reality is the economy does not have a fixed number of jobs and what we see today is a growing economy that is adding jobs for both Immigrants and U.S.-born Workers. 

Here are six key facts that show Immigrants are not hurting the employment outcomes of U.S.-born Workers:

The unemployment rate for U.S.-born Workers averaged 3.6% in 2023, the lowest rate on record.  Obviously, immigration is not causing high unemployment among U.S.-born Workers.

The share of prime-age U.S.-born individuals with a job is at its highest rate in more than two decades.  In 2023, the prime-age (ages 25-to-54) Employment-to-Population Ratio (EPOP) for U.S.-born individuals was 81.4%, up from 80.7% in 2019 and now at its highest rate since 2001.

The prime-age Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for U.S.-born individuals is also at its highest rate in more than two decades.  In 2023, the LFPR for prime-age U.S.-born individuals was 83.9%, up from 83.3% in 2019 and now at its highest rate since 2002.  Further, the increase in the U.S.-born prime-age LFPR over the last year was the second highest on record - below only the increase that occurred the year before last.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Immigrants are not hurting U.S.-born workers: Six facts to set the record straight | Economic Policy Institute (epi.org)