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Economic News Release
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Labor Force Characteristics of Foreign-born Workers News Release

For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Friday, May 15, 2020 				  USDL-20-0922

Technical information:	cpsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/cps
Media contact:		(202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov


		   FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS: LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS -- 2019


The unemployment rate for foreign-born persons in the United States was 3.1 percent in 2019,
down from 3.5 percent in 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The
jobless rate of native-born persons was 3.8 percent in 2019, down from 4.0 percent in 2018.

Data on nativity are collected as part of the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly 
sample survey of approximately 60,000 households. The foreign born are persons who reside
in the United States but who were not U.S. citizens at birth. Specifically, they were born
outside the United States (or one of its outlying areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam), and
neither parent was a U.S. citizen. The foreign born include legally-admitted immigrants,
refugees, temporary residents such as students and temporary workers, and undocumented 
immigrants. However, the survey does not separately identify persons in these categories.
For further information about the survey, see the Technical Note in this news release.

Highlights from the 2019 data:

   --In 2019, there were 28.4 million foreign-born persons in the U.S. labor force, 
     comprising 17.4 percent of the total. (See table 1.)

   --Hispanics continued to account for nearly half of the foreign-born labor force in
     2019, and Asians accounted for one-quarter. (See table 1.) (Data in this news release
     for persons who are White, Black, or Asian do not include those of Hispanic or Latino
     ethnicity. Data on persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are presented separately.)

   --Foreign-born men were more likely to participate in the labor force than native-born
     men (78.0 percent compared with 67.4 percent), while foreign-born women were less 
     likely to participate in the labor force than native-born women (54.8 percent compared
     with 57.9 percent). (See table 1.)

   --Foreign-born workers were more likely than native-born workers to be employed in 
     service occupations; natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations; and
     production, transportation, and material moving occupations. Foreign-born workers were
     less likely than native-born workers to be employed in management, professional, and
     related occupations and in sales and office occupations. (See table 4.)

   --The median usual weekly earnings of foreign-born full-time wage and salary workers were
     $800 in 2019, compared with $941 for their native-born counterparts. (See table 5.)
     (Differences in earnings reflect a variety of factors, including variations in the
     distributions of foreign-born and native-born workers by educational attainment, 
     occupation, industry, and geographic region.) 

Demographic Characteristics

The demographic composition of the foreign-born labor force differs from that of the native-
born labor force. In 2019, men accounted for 57.2 percent of the foreign-born labor force,
compared with 52.1 percent of the native-born labor force. By age, the proportion of the
foreign-born labor force made up of 25- to 54-year-olds (72.5 percent) was higher than for
the native-born labor force (61.8 percent). Labor force participation is typically highest
among persons in that age bracket. (See table 1.)

In 2019, nearly half (47.6 percent) of the foreign-born labor force was Hispanic, and one-
quarter (25.3 percent) was Asian. In 2019, Hispanics and Asians made up much lower 
percentages of the native-born labor force, at 11.5 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively.
About 16.4 percent of the foreign-born labor force was White and 9.6 percent was Black, 
compared with 71.1 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively, of the native-born labor force.

In terms of educational attainment, the proportion of the foreign-born labor force age 25
and over that had not completed high school was 20.4 percent in 2019, much higher than the
figure for the native-born labor force, at 3.9 percent. The foreign born were less likely 
than the native born to have some college or an associate degree--16.2 percent compared with
28.6 percent. The proportions for foreign-born and native-born high school graduates (24.9
percent compared with 25.5 percent) and those with a bachelor's degree or higher (38.6 
percent compared with 42.0 percent) were more similar.

Labor Force

In 2019, the share of the U.S. civilian labor force that was foreign born was 17.4 percent,
the same as in 2018. (See table 1.) The share of the U.S. civilian labor force that was
foreign born was 13.3 percent in 2000.

In 2019, the labor force participation rate of the foreign born edged up to 66.0 percent
from 65.7 percent in the prior year. The participation rate for the native born increased
to 62.5 percent in 2019 from 62.3 percent in 2018. 

Foreign-born men continued to participate in the labor force at a considerably higher rate
(78.0 percent) in 2019 than their native-born counterparts (67.4 percent). In contrast, 
54.8 percent of foreign-born women were labor force participants, somewhat lower than the 
rate of 57.9 percent for native-born women.

Labor force participation rates for the foreign-born varied across the major race and 
ethnicity groups in 2019, ranging from 60.3 percent for foreign-born Whites to 70.8 percent
for foreign-born Blacks. Participation rates for the native born showed less variation
across race and ethnicity groups, ranging from 61.1 percent for native-born Blacks to 65.4 
percent for native-born Hispanics. Across all race and ethnicity groups, participation 
rates showed little or no change from 2018 to 2019 for both the foreign born and the native
born, except for native-born Hispanics, whose rate increased from 64.5 percent to 65.4
percent. 

In 2019, foreign-born mothers with children under age 18 were less likely to be labor force
participants than native-born mothers--61.7 percent compared with 75.5 percent. Labor force
participation differences between foreign-born and native-born mothers were greater among
those with younger children than among those with older children. Among women with children
under age 6, the participation rate for foreign-born mothers was 52.6 percent, 17.7 
percentage points below that for native-born mothers, at 70.3 percent. In comparison, the 
labor force participation rate of foreign-born mothers with children ages 6 to 17 (68.0 
percent) was 11.6 percentage points lower than that for native-born mothers with children
ages 6 to 17 (79.6 percent). The labor force participation rates of foreign-born and
native-born fathers with children under age 18 were similar, at 93.9 percent and 93.2 
percent, respectively. (See table 2.)

By region, the foreign born made up a larger share of the labor force in the West (23.5
percent) and in the Northeast (20.2 percent) in 2019 than for the nation as a whole (17.4
percent). In contrast, the foreign born made up a smaller share of the labor force than for
the nation as a whole in the South (16.5 percent) and the Midwest (9.7 percent). (See 
table 6.) 

Unemployment

The unemployment rate of the foreign born declined from 3.5 percent to 3.1 percent from
2018 to 2019, and the jobless rate for the native born decreased from 4.0 percent to 3.8 
percent. For both the foreign born and the native born, the 2019 jobless rates were the
lowest in the history of the series (which date back to January 1996, when data for these
series first became available on a regular basis). The over-the-year decrease in the
unemployment rates of the foreign born and the native born reflected decreases in the rates
for both men and women. In 2019, the unemployment rates for foreign-born men and women were
2.7 percent and 3.7 percent, compared with 4.0 percent and 3.6 percent for native-born men 
and women. (See table 1.)

For both the foreign born and the native born, jobless rates vary considerably by race and
ethnicity. Among the foreign born, Blacks had the highest unemployment rate in 2019 (4.1
percent), followed by Hispanics (3.4 percent), Whites (2.9 percent), and Asians (2.4 
percent). Among the native born, Blacks also had the highest jobless rate (6.5 percent),
followed by Hispanics (5.1 percent), Asians (3.3 percent), and Whites (3.0 percent).

Occupation

In 2019, foreign-born workers continued to be more likely than native-born workers to be
employed in service occupations (22.5 percent compared with 16.0 percent); natural 
resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (13.4 percent compared with 8.2 
percent); and production, transportation, and material moving occupations (14.7 percent
compared with 11.2 percent). Foreign-born workers were less likely than native-born
workers to be employed in management, professional, and related occupations (33.9 percent
compared with 42.2 percent) and in sales and office occupations (15.5 percent compared
with 22.4 percent). (See table 4.)

In 2019, employed foreign-born men and women were more likely than their native-born
counterparts to work in service occupations; natural resources, construction, and
maintenance occupations; and production, transportation, and material moving occupations.
Among employed men, the disparity was especially great in natural resources, construction,
and maintenance occupations--21.8 percent of the foreign born worked in this occupational
field, compared with 15.0 percent of the native born. The occupational disparity for women
was pronounced in service occupations--31.4 percent of the foreign born worked in that 
occupation group, compared with 19.0 percent of the native born. By contrast, employed 
native-born men and women were more likely than their foreign-born counterparts to work in
management, professional, and related occupations and in sales and office occupations.

Earnings

In 2019, median usual weekly earnings of foreign-born, full-time wage and salary workers
($800) were 85.0 percent of the earnings of their native-born counterparts ($941). Among
men, median weekly earnings for the foreign born ($863) were 82.8 percent of the earnings 
of the native born ($1,042). Median earnings for foreign-born women ($719) were 85.5
percent of the earnings of native-born women ($841). (See table 5.) Differences in earnings
reflect a variety of factors, including variations in the distributions of foreign-born and
native-born workers by educational attainment, occupation, industry, and geographic region. 

Among the major race and ethnicity groups, Hispanic foreign-born full-time wage and salary
workers earned 86.7 percent as much as their native-born counterparts in 2019. For Black and
Asian workers, earnings for the foreign born and the native born were similar (less than a 
3 percent difference for both groups), while White foreign-born workers earned 12.3 percent
more than their native-born counterparts. 

The earnings of both foreign-born and native-born workers increase with education. In 2019,
foreign-born workers age 25 and over with less than a high school diploma earned $577 per
week, while those with a bachelor's degree and higher earned about 2.5 times as much--$1,418
per week. Among the native born, those with a bachelor's degree and higher earned 2.2 times
as much as those with less than a high school diploma--$1,360 compared with $617 per week.

Native-born workers earn more than the foreign born at most educational attainment levels.
For example, among high school graduates (no college), full-time workers who were foreign
born ($675) earned 88.1 percent as much as their native-born counterparts ($766) in 2019.
However, among those with a bachelor's degree and higher, the earnings of foreign-born 
workers ($1,418) were slightly higher than the earnings of native-born workers ($1,360).




Technical Note


   The estimates in this release are based on annual average data from
the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS, which is conducted by
the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is a
monthly survey of about 60,000 eligible households that provides
information on the labor force status, demographics, and other
characteristics of the nation's civilian noninstitutional population
age 16 and over. In response to the increased demand for statistical
information about the foreign born, questions on nativity,
citizenship, year of entry into the United States, and the parental
nativity of respondents were added to the CPS beginning in January
1994. Prior to 1994, the primary sources of data on the foreign born
were the decennial census, two CPS supplements (conducted in April
1983 and November 1989), and, to some extent, information collected by
the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly known as the
Immigration and Naturalization Service).

   The foreign- and native-born data presented in this release are not
strictly comparable with data for earlier years due to the introduction
of updated population estimates, or controls, used in the CPS. The
population controls are updated each year in January to reflect the
latest information about population change. Additional information is
available from the BLS website at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop.

   Information in this release will be made available to sensory 
impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200,
Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Reliability of the estimates

   Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and
nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire population,
is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ
from the true population values they represent. The component of this
difference that occurs because samples differ by chance is known as
sampling error, and its variability is measured by the standard error
of the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of
confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more
than 1.6 standard errors from the true population value because of
sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent
level of confidence.

   The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a
segment of the population, inability to obtain information for all
respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents
to provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or
processing of the data.

   Additional information about the reliability of data from the CPS
and estimating standard errors is available at
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.

Definitions

   Definitions of the principal terms used in this release are
presented below.

   Foreign born. The foreign born are persons residing in the United
States who were not U.S. citizens at birth. Specifically, they were born
outside the United States (or one of its outlying areas such as Guam or
Puerto Rico), and neither parent was a U.S. citizen. The foreign-born 
population includes legally-admitted immigrants, refugees, temporary 
residents such as students and temporary workers,and undocumented immigrants.
The survey data, however, do not separately identify the number of persons 
in these categories.

   Native born. The native born are persons born in the United States
or one of its outlying areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam or who were
born abroad of at least one parent who was a U.S. citizen.

   Race and ethnicity groups. In this release, the data are presented
for non-Hispanic Whites, Blacks, and Asians and for persons of
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. These four groups are mutually exclusive
but not exhaustive. Other race groups (including persons who selected
more than one race category) are included in the overall totals but
are not shown separately because the number of survey respondents is
too small to develop statistically reliable estimates. The presentation
of data on race and ethnicity in this release differs from that
which appears in most analyses of CPS labor force data because persons
of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are separated from the race groups.
Because persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity can be of any race,
they are usually included in the race groups as well as shown
separately in the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity group. The reason for
the difference in the data presentation in this release is because
about half of the foreign born are of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and
they have somewhat different labor force characteristics than the non-
Hispanic foreign born.

   Employed. Employed persons are all those who, during the survey
reference week, (a) did any work at all as paid employees; (b) worked
in their own business, profession, or on their own farm; or (c) worked
15 hours or more as unpaid workers in a family member's business.
Persons who were temporarily absent from their jobs because of
illness, bad weather, vacation, labor dispute, or another reason also
are counted as employed.

   Unemployed. The unemployed are those who had no employment during
the reference week, were available for work at that time, and had made
specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period
ending with the reference week. Persons who were waiting to be
recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not be
looking for work to be classified as unemployed.

   Civilian labor force. The civilian labor force comprises all
persons classified as employed or unemployed.

   Unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is the number unemployed
as a percent of the civilian labor force.

   Labor force participation rate. The labor force participation rate
is the labor force as a percent of the population.

   Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and
other deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips
usually received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders).
Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly are converted to a
weekly equivalent.

   Full-time wage and salary workers. These are workers who usually
work 35 hours or more per week at their sole or principal job and
receive wages, salaries, and other types of compensation. The group
includes employees in both the private and public sectors but, for
purposes of the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons,
regardless of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

   Median earnings. The median earnings is the amount which divides a
given earnings distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings
above the median and the other having earnings below the median.




Table 1. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations by selected characteristics, 2018-2019 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic 2018 2019
Civilian
noninsti-
tutional
population
Civilian labor force Civilian
noninsti-
tutional
population
Civilian labor force
Total Participa-
tion rate
Employed Unemployed Total Participa-
tion rate
Employed Unemployed
Number Unem-
ployment
rate
Number Unem-
ployment
rate

TOTAL

Total, 16 years and over

257,791 162,075 62.9 155,761 6,314 3.9 259,175 163,539 63.1 157,538 6,001 3.7

Men

124,678 86,096 69.1 82,698 3,398 3.9 125,353 86,687 69.2 83,460 3,227 3.7

Women

133,112 75,978 57.1 73,063 2,916 3.8 133,822 76,852 57.4 74,078 2,774 3.6

FOREIGN BORN

Total, 16 years and over

42,898 28,202 65.7 27,217 986 3.5 42,990 28,390 66.0 27,502 888 3.1

Men

20,803 16,203 77.9 15,714 488 3.0 20,814 16,234 78.0 15,791 443 2.7

Women

22,095 12,000 54.3 11,502 497 4.1 22,176 12,156 54.8 11,711 446 3.7

Age

16 to 24 years

3,443 1,761 51.2 1,638 124 7.0 3,330 1,735 52.1 1,619 116 6.7

25 to 34 years

7,946 6,092 76.7 5,877 215 3.5 7,665 5,917 77.2 5,726 191 3.2

35 to 44 years

9,499 7,520 79.2 7,302 219 2.9 9,361 7,459 79.7 7,273 187 2.5

45 to 54 years

8,715 7,044 80.8 6,844 200 2.8 8,878 7,219 81.3 7,018 201 2.8

55 to 64 years

6,542 4,425 67.6 4,255 170 3.8 6,699 4,585 68.5 4,450 135 3.0

65 years and over

6,754 1,360 20.1 1,301 58 4.3 7,057 1,475 20.9 1,416 59 4.0

Race and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity(1)

White non-Hispanic or Latino

7,837 4,676 59.7 4,517 160 3.4 7,710 4,651 60.3 4,515 136 2.9

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

3,786 2,682 70.8 2,560 122 4.6 3,837 2,716 70.8 2,606 110 4.1

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

11,118 7,082 63.7 6,895 187 2.6 11,180 7,187 64.3 7,013 174 2.4

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

19,683 13,457 68.4 12,950 507 3.8 19,753 13,506 68.4 13,046 460 3.4

Educational attainment

Total, 25 years and over

39,455 26,441 67.0 25,579 862 3.3 39,660 26,655 67.2 25,883 773 2.9

Less than a high school diploma

9,616 5,607 58.3 5,378 229 4.1 9,494 5,432 57.2 5,217 214 3.9

High school graduates, no college(2)

10,127 6,629 65.5 6,415 214 3.2 9,983 6,632 66.4 6,454 178 2.7

Some college or associate degree

6,366 4,448 69.9 4,301 147 3.3 6,233 4,312 69.2 4,196 116 2.7

Bachelor's degree and higher(3)

13,347 9,758 73.1 9,485 273 2.8 13,950 10,280 73.7 10,015 264 2.6

NATIVE BORN

Total, 16 years and over

214,892 133,872 62.3 128,544 5,328 4.0 216,185 135,148 62.5 130,036 5,112 3.8

Men

103,875 69,894 67.3 66,984 2,910 4.2 104,540 70,453 67.4 67,669 2,784 4.0

Women

111,018 63,979 57.6 61,560 2,418 3.8 111,645 64,696 57.9 62,367 2,328 3.6

Age

16 to 24 years

34,561 19,223 55.6 17,539 1,684 8.8 34,418 19,358 56.2 17,703 1,654 8.5

25 to 34 years

36,635 30,682 83.8 29,447 1,235 4.0 37,211 31,274 84.0 30,081 1,193 3.8

35 to 44 years

31,071 26,099 84.0 25,315 784 3.0 31,599 26,598 84.2 25,854 743 2.8

45 to 54 years

32,525 26,267 80.8 25,529 738 2.8 31,566 25,713 81.5 25,024 689 2.7

55 to 64 years

35,572 22,929 64.5 22,310 619 2.7 35,542 23,018 64.8 22,443 575 2.5

65 years and over

44,529 8,673 19.5 8,404 269 3.1 45,848 9,188 20.0 8,931 257 2.8

Race and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity(1)

White non-Hispanic or Latino

154,396 95,991 62.2 92,952 3,038 3.2 154,457 96,132 62.2 93,210 2,922 3.0

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

27,076 16,484 60.9 15,355 1,129 6.8 27,105 16,566 61.1 15,497 1,069 6.5

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

4,408 2,761 62.6 2,657 104 3.8 4,720 2,973 63.0 2,874 99 3.3

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

23,051 14,879 64.5 14,063 816 5.5 23,754 15,547 65.4 14,759 788 5.1

Educational attainment

Total, 25 years and over

180,332 114,650 63.6 111,005 3,644 3.2 181,767 115,791 63.7 112,333 3,458 3.0

Less than a high school diploma

12,635 4,671 37.0 4,323 347 7.4 12,132 4,544 37.5 4,224 320 7.0

High school graduates, no college(2)

52,465 29,382 56.0 28,135 1,247 4.2 52,476 29,530 56.3 28,383 1,146 3.9

Some college or associate degree

51,038 33,138 64.9 32,036 1,101 3.3 51,280 33,108 64.6 32,086 1,022 3.1

Bachelor's degree and higher(3)

64,193 47,459 73.9 46,511 949 2.0 65,878 48,609 73.8 47,640 969 2.0

Footnotes
(1) Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
(2) Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
(3) Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.


Table 2. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 16 years and over by presence and age of youngest child and sex, 2018-2019 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic 2018 2019
Total Men Women Total Men Women

FOREIGN BORN

With own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population

15,770 7,446 8,324 15,499 7,341 8,159

Civilian labor force

12,062 6,984 5,078 11,926 6,891 5,035

Participation rate

76.5 93.8 61.0 76.9 93.9 61.7

Employed

11,675 6,815 4,860 11,574 6,735 4,840

Employment-population ratio

74.0 91.5 58.4 74.7 91.7 59.3

Unemployed

387 168 219 352 156 195

Unemployment rate

3.2 2.4 4.3 3.0 2.3 3.9

With own children 6 to 17, none younger

Civilian noninstitutional population

8,948 4,120 4,827 8,938 4,127 4,810

Civilian labor force

7,127 3,824 3,303 7,093 3,820 3,273

Participation rate

79.7 92.8 68.4 79.4 92.5 68.0

Employed

6,904 3,733 3,171 6,880 3,724 3,157

Employment-population ratio

77.2 90.6 65.7 77.0 90.2 65.6

Unemployed

223 91 132 212 96 116

Unemployment rate

3.1 2.4 4.0 3.0 2.5 3.6

With own children under 6

Civilian noninstitutional population

6,823 3,326 3,497 6,562 3,213 3,348

Civilian labor force

4,935 3,160 1,775 4,834 3,071 1,762

Participation rate

72.3 95.0 50.8 73.7 95.6 52.6

Employed

4,771 3,082 1,689 4,694 3,011 1,683

Employment-population ratio

69.9 92.7 48.3 71.5 93.7 50.3

Unemployed

164 77 87 139 60 79

Unemployment rate

3.3 2.4 4.9 2.9 2.0 4.5

With own children under 3

Civilian noninstitutional population

3,720 1,828 1,892 3,566 1,774 1,792

Civilian labor force

2,589 1,732 857 2,566 1,695 871

Participation rate

69.6 94.8 45.3 72.0 95.5 48.6

Employed

2,504 1,695 809 2,495 1,664 831

Employment-population ratio

67.3 92.7 42.8 70.0 93.8 46.4

Unemployed

85 37 48 71 31 40

Unemployment rate

3.3 2.2 5.6 2.8 1.8 4.6

With no own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population

27,128 13,357 13,771 27,491 13,473 14,018

Civilian labor force

16,140 9,219 6,921 16,464 9,343 7,121

Participation rate

59.5 69.0 50.3 59.9 69.3 50.8

Employed

15,542 8,899 6,643 15,927 9,056 6,871

Employment-population ratio

57.3 66.6 48.2 57.9 67.2 49.0

Unemployed

599 320 279 537 287 250

Unemployment rate

3.7 3.5 4.0 3.3 3.1 3.5

NATIVE BORN

With own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population

48,464 21,467 26,998 48,138 21,318 26,820

Civilian labor force

40,144 19,984 20,161 40,107 19,865 20,242

Participation rate

82.8 93.1 74.7 83.3 93.2 75.5

Employed

38,915 19,501 19,414 38,977 19,427 19,550

Employment-population ratio

80.3 90.8 71.9 81.0 91.1 72.9

Unemployed

1,229 483 746 1,130 438 692

Unemployment rate

3.1 2.4 3.7 2.8 2.2 3.4

With own children 6 to 17, none younger

Civilian noninstitutional population

26,933 11,874 15,059 26,768 11,859 14,909

Civilian labor force

22,810 10,929 11,880 22,765 10,894 11,871

Participation rate

84.7 92.0 78.9 85.0 91.9 79.6

Employed

22,193 10,696 11,497 22,169 10,661 11,508

Employment-population ratio

82.4 90.1 76.3 82.8 89.9 77.2

Unemployed

617 233 384 596 233 363

Unemployment rate

2.7 2.1 3.2 2.6 2.1 3.1

With own children under 6

Civilian noninstitutional population

21,532 9,593 11,939 21,370 9,458 11,912

Civilian labor force

17,335 9,055 8,280 17,342 8,971 8,371

Participation rate

80.5 94.4 69.4 81.1 94.8 70.3

Employed

16,723 8,805 7,918 16,808 8,766 8,042

Employment-population ratio

77.7 91.8 66.3 78.7 92.7 67.5

Unemployed

612 249 363 534 204 329

Unemployment rate

3.5 2.8 4.4 3.1 2.3 3.9

With own children under 3

Civilian noninstitutional population

12,556 5,623 6,933 12,464 5,571 6,894

Civilian labor force

9,932 5,328 4,605 9,941 5,300 4,641

Participation rate

79.1 94.8 66.4 79.8 95.1 67.3

Employed

9,576 5,174 4,401 9,626 5,173 4,453

Employment-population ratio

76.3 92.0 63.5 77.2 92.9 64.6

Unemployed

357 153 204 315 127 188

Unemployment rate

3.6 2.9 4.4 3.2 2.4 4.1

With no own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population

166,428 82,408 84,020 168,047 83,222 84,825

Civilian labor force

93,728 49,910 43,818 95,042 50,588 44,453

Participation rate

56.3 60.6 52.2 56.6 60.8 52.4

Employed

89,629 47,483 42,146 91,060 48,242 42,817

Employment-population ratio

53.9 57.6 50.2 54.2 58.0 50.5

Unemployed

4,099 2,427 1,672 3,982 2,346 1,636

Unemployment rate

4.4 4.9 3.8 4.2 4.6 3.7

NOTE: Own children include sons, daughters, step-children, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.


Table 3. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 25 years and over by educational attainment, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2018-2019 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic 2018 2019
Less than
a high
school
diploma
High school
graduates,
no college(1)
Some
college or
associate
degree
Bachelor's
degree and
higher(2)
Less than
a high
school
diploma
High school
graduates,
no college(1)
Some
college or
associate
degree
Bachelor's
degree and
higher(2)

FOREIGN BORN

White non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

644 1,708 1,361 3,617 563 1,686 1,369 3,610

Civilian labor force

250 849 817 2,515 186 897 794 2,523

Participation rate

38.9 49.7 60.0 69.5 33.0 53.2 58.0 69.9

Employed

238 823 791 2,440 179 871 771 2,456

Employment-population ratio

36.9 48.2 58.1 67.5 31.9 51.7 56.3 68.0

Unemployed

12 26 27 75 6 25 22 67

Unemployment rate

4.9 3.1 3.3 3.0 3.4 2.8 2.8 2.7

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

391 946 908 1,156 374 967 838 1,240

Civilian labor force

196 666 684 950 199 663 638 1,011

Participation rate

50.3 70.4 75.3 82.1 53.2 68.5 76.2 81.5

Employed

187 637 653 911 187 637 614 976

Employment-population ratio

47.8 67.4 71.9 78.8 49.9 65.9 73.3 78.7

Unemployed

10 28 31 38 12 26 24 36

Unemployment rate

4.9 4.2 4.5 4.0 6.1 3.9 3.8 3.5

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

1,015 1,955 1,402 5,844 1,079 1,829 1,318 6,096

Civilian labor force

403 1,145 934 4,257 410 1,062 878 4,478

Participation rate

39.7 58.6 66.7 72.8 38.0 58.1 66.6 73.5

Employed

393 1,121 910 4,152 399 1,044 857 4,378

Employment-population ratio

38.7 57.3 64.9 71.0 37.0 57.1 65.0 71.8

Unemployed

10 24 24 106 11 17 21 100

Unemployment rate

2.5 2.1 2.6 2.5 2.6 1.6 2.4 2.2

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population

7,514 5,410 2,577 2,585 7,436 5,392 2,572 2,834

Civilian labor force

4,730 3,908 1,930 1,923 4,618 3,941 1,910 2,142

Participation rate

62.9 72.2 74.9 74.4 62.1 73.1 74.2 75.6

Employed

4,534 3,777 1,867 1,870 4,433 3,835 1,863 2,082

Employment-population ratio

60.3 69.8 72.4 72.4 59.6 71.1 72.4 73.5

Unemployed

196 131 63 53 184 106 47 59

Unemployment rate

4.1 3.4 3.2 2.7 4.0 2.7 2.5 2.8

NATIVE BORN

White non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

7,423 37,857 37,328 52,012 7,075 37,579 37,225 53,021

Civilian labor force

2,641 20,379 23,507 37,817 2,550 20,377 23,175 38,437

Participation rate

35.6 53.8 63.0 72.7 36.0 54.2 62.3 72.5

Employed

2,479 19,670 22,855 37,117 2,399 19,725 22,570 37,726

Employment-population ratio

33.4 52.0 61.2 71.4 33.9 52.5 60.6 71.2

Unemployed

162 708 652 700 151 652 606 711

Unemployment rate

6.1 3.5 2.8 1.9 5.9 3.2 2.6 1.8

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

2,427 7,487 6,713 5,555 2,315 7,571 6,820 5,708

Civilian labor force

782 4,340 4,571 4,259 759 4,326 4,632 4,373

Participation rate

32.2 58.0 68.1 76.7 32.8 57.1 67.9 76.6

Employed

684 4,029 4,324 4,146 668 4,035 4,427 4,256

Employment-population ratio

28.2 53.8 64.4 74.6 28.9 53.3 64.9 74.6

Unemployed

98 311 247 112 91 291 205 118

Unemployment rate

12.6 7.2 5.4 2.6 12.0 6.7 4.4 2.7

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

164 516 602 1,854 145 509 685 2,035

Civilian labor force

69 309 414 1,468 55 294 471 1,637

Participation rate

41.8 60.0 68.7 79.2 38.1 57.8 68.7 80.4

Employed

65 299 400 1,440 53 285 455 1,598

Employment-population ratio

39.7 58.0 66.4 77.7 36.3 56.0 66.5 78.5

Unemployed

4 10 14 28 3 9 15 39

Unemployment rate

5.1 3.4 3.3 1.9 4.9 3.2 3.3 2.4

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population

2,223 5,227 4,903 3,613 2,215 5,446 5,004 3,858

Civilian labor force

1,023 3,531 3,624 2,989 1,042 3,698 3,790 3,157

Participation rate

46.0 67.6 73.9 82.7 47.0 67.9 75.7 81.8

Employed

954 3,369 3,487 2,900 978 3,559 3,646 3,081

Employment-population ratio

42.9 64.5 71.1 80.3 44.2 65.4 72.9 79.9

Unemployed

69 162 137 88 64 139 144 76

Unemployment rate

6.8 4.6 3.8 3.0 6.1 3.8 3.8 2.4

Footnotes
(1) Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
(2) Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.

NOTE: Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.


Table 4. Employed foreign-born and native-born persons 16 years and over by occupation and sex, 2019 annual averages [Percent distribution]
Occupation Foreign born Native born
Total Men Women Total Men Women

Total employed (in thousands)

27,502 15,791 11,711 130,036 67,669 62,367

Occupation as a percent of total employed

Total employed

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Management, professional, and related occupations

33.9 32.0 36.4 42.2 38.3 46.5

Management, business, and financial operations occupations

13.1 13.5 12.6 18.0 19.1 16.7

Management occupations

9.2 10.4 7.6 12.6 14.4 10.7

Business and financial operations occupations

3.9 3.1 5.0 5.3 4.7 6.0

Professional and related occupations

20.8 18.5 23.8 24.2 19.2 29.8

Computer and mathematical occupations

5.2 6.6 3.2 3.0 4.3 1.6

Architecture and engineering occupations

2.3 3.3 1.1 2.0 3.4 0.6

Life, physical, and social science occupations

1.2 1.1 1.2 0.9 0.8 0.9

Community and social service occupations

1.0 0.7 1.4 1.9 1.1 2.7

Legal occupations

0.6 0.4 0.8 1.4 1.3 1.5

Education, training, and library occupations

3.8 2.1 6.0 6.5 3.2 10.0

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations

1.5 1.4 1.6 2.2 2.1 2.3

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

5.2 2.8 8.5 6.3 2.9 10.1

Service occupations

22.5 15.9 31.4 16.0 13.2 19.0

Healthcare support occupations

2.6 0.6 5.2 2.3 0.6 4.3

Protective service occupations

0.9 1.3 0.4 2.2 3.3 1.0

Food preparation and serving related occupations

6.7 6.0 7.7 5.0 4.2 5.9

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations

7.6 6.3 9.4 2.8 3.5 2.1

Personal care and service occupations

4.8 1.7 8.8 3.6 1.6 5.7

Sales and office occupations

15.5 12.0 20.2 22.4 16.6 28.6

Sales and related occupations

7.7 7.3 8.3 10.3 10.1 10.6

Office and administrative support occupations

7.8 4.7 11.9 12.0 6.5 18.0

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

13.4 21.8 2.0 8.2 15.0 0.9

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

1.7 2.0 1.2 0.5 0.8 0.2

Construction and extraction occupations

9.1 15.3 0.7 4.5 8.3 0.3

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

2.6 4.4 0.2 3.2 5.9 0.3

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

14.7 18.2 10.0 11.2 16.9 5.0

Production occupations

7.2 7.6 6.6 5.1 7.3 2.7

Transportation and material moving occupations

7.5 10.6 3.4 6.1 9.7 2.3

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.


Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers for the foreign born and native born by selected characteristics, 2018-2019 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic 2018 2019
Foreign born Native born Earnings
of foreign
born as
percent of
native
born
Foreign born Native born Earnings
of foreign
born as
percent of
native
born
Number Median
weekly
earnings
Number Median
weekly
earnings
Number Median
weekly
earnings
Number Median
weekly
earnings

Total, 16 years and over

20,627 $758 94,939 $910 83.3 21,007 $800 96,576 $941 85.0

Men

12,469 815 51,673 1,007 80.9 12,584 863 52,423 1,042 82.8

Women

8,158 678 43,266 810 83.7 8,423 719 44,154 841 85.5

AGE

16 to 24 years

993 522 9,436 551 94.7 987 564 9,778 583 96.7

25 to 34 years

4,668 752 24,207 819 91.8 4,682 797 24,894 854 93.3

35 to 44 years

5,803 802 20,648 1,035 77.5 5,704 864 21,078 1,083 79.8

45 to 54 years

5,215 779 20,351 1,059 73.6 5,491 815 19,899 1,102 74.0

55 to 64 years

3,154 774 16,430 1,035 74.8 3,293 815 16,773 1,065 76.5

65 years and over

795 733 3,867 977 75.0 850 749 4,155 964 77.7

RACE AND HISPANIC OR
LATINO ETHNICITY(1)

White non-Hispanic or Latino

3,135 1,083 67,771 986 109.8 3,203 1,141 68,143 1,016 112.3

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

2,023 699 12,109 697 100.3 2,089 749 12,353 735 101.9

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

5,387 1,129 2,041 1,065 106.0 5,466 1,198 2,218 1,168 102.6

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

9,852 621 10,445 741 83.8 10,008 658 11,219 759 86.7

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over

19,635 775 85,503 965 80.3 20,020 819 86,798 999 82.0

Less than a high school diploma

4,097 535 2,902 578 92.6 4,038 577 2,972 617 93.5

High school graduates, no college(2)

4,879 632 21,358 754 83.8 4,950 675 21,806 766 88.1

Some college or associate degree

3,125 755 24,350 837 90.2 3,093 779 24,185 868 89.7

Bachelor's degree and higher(3)

7,534 1,362 36,893 1,309 104.0 7,939 1,418 37,834 1,360 104.3

Footnotes
(1) Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
(2) Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
(3) Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.


Table 6. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 16 years and over by census region and division, 2018-2019 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Census region and
division
2018 2019
Civilian
noninsti-
tutional
population
Civilian labor force Civilian
noninsti-
tutional
population
Civilian labor force
Total Participa-
tion rate
Employed Unemployed Total Participa-
tion rate
Employed Unemployed
Number Unem-
ployment
rate
Number Unem-
ployment
rate

FOREIGN BORN

Northeast

8,914 5,787 64.9 5,576 212 3.7 8,882 5,778 65.1 5,601 177 3.1

New England

1,976 1,372 69.4 1,318 54 3.9 1,976 1,379 69.8 1,335 44 3.2

Middle Atlantic

6,938 4,416 63.6 4,258 158 3.6 6,906 4,399 63.7 4,266 133 3.0

South

14,562 9,719 66.7 9,405 314 3.2 14,887 10,036 67.4 9,750 286 2.8

South Atlantic

8,633 5,766 66.8 5,583 183 3.2 8,913 6,016 67.5 5,836 181 3.0

East South Central

748 510 68.2 492 18 3.6 733 496 67.7 483 13 2.6

West South Central

5,181 3,443 66.5 3,330 113 3.3 5,242 3,523 67.2 3,431 92 2.6

Midwest

4,907 3,289 67.0 3,178 111 3.4 4,967 3,400 68.5 3,298 102 3.0

East North Central

3,584 2,351 65.6 2,273 78 3.3 3,695 2,485 67.3 2,412 73 2.9

West North Central

1,323 938 70.9 905 33 3.5 1,272 915 71.9 886 29 3.2

West

14,515 9,407 64.8 9,058 349 3.7 14,254 9,176 64.4 8,853 323 3.5

Mountain

2,766 1,850 66.9 1,788 62 3.3 2,683 1,795 66.9 1,738 58 3.2

Pacific

11,749 7,558 64.3 7,270 287 3.8 11,571 7,381 63.8 7,115 266 3.6

NATIVE BORN

Northeast

36,657 22,937 62.6 21,996 941 4.1 36,371 22,881 62.9 21,993 888 3.9

New England

10,143 6,721 66.3 6,488 232 3.5 10,195 6,740 66.1 6,530 210 3.1

Middle Atlantic

26,513 16,217 61.2 15,508 709 4.4 26,175 16,141 61.7 15,463 679 4.2

South

82,746 50,181 60.6 48,209 1,972 3.9 83,418 50,697 60.8 48,848 1,849 3.6

South Atlantic

43,140 26,161 60.6 25,162 999 3.8 43,404 26,361 60.7 25,449 912 3.5

East South Central

14,224 8,289 58.3 7,954 335 4.0 14,317 8,475 59.2 8,148 327 3.9

West South Central

25,382 15,731 62.0 15,093 638 4.1 25,697 15,861 61.7 15,251 610 3.8

Midwest

48,821 31,589 64.7 30,415 1,174 3.7 48,918 31,707 64.8 30,548 1,159 3.7

East North Central

33,510 21,324 63.6 20,452 872 4.1 33,484 21,273 63.5 20,440 833 3.9

West North Central

15,311 10,265 67.0 9,963 301 2.9 15,433 10,435 67.6 10,109 326 3.1

West

46,669 29,164 62.5 27,923 1,241 4.3 47,478 29,863 62.9 28,648 1,215 4.1

Mountain

16,220 10,341 63.8 9,920 421 4.1 16,701 10,734 64.3 10,334 400 3.7

Pacific

30,449 18,824 61.8 18,003 820 4.4 30,777 19,129 62.2 18,314 815 4.3

NOTE: The states (plus the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are: New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont); Middle Atlantic (New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania); South Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia); East South Central (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee); West South Central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas); East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin); West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota); Mountain (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming); Pacific (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington). Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.


Last Modified Date: May 15, 2020