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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. (ET) Tuesday, May 21, 2024                                      USDL-24-1008

Technical information:  (202) 691-6378  *  cpsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/cps 
Media contact:          (202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov 


                FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS: LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS -- 2023


The unemployment rate for the foreign born in the United States edged up from 3.4 percent
in 2022 to 3.6 percent in 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The
jobless rate of the native born changed little at 3.6 percent in 2023. Both measures are 
down considerably from their highs in 2020. However, the jobless rate for the foreign born
remains above its level of 3.1 percent in 2019, prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,
while the rate for the native born is below its pre-pandemic level of 3.8 percent.

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 people 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 people in these categories. 
For further information about the survey, see the Technical Note in this news release.

Highlights from the 2023 data:

 --In 2023, the foreign born accounted for 18.6 percent of the U.S. civilian labor force,
   up from 18.1 percent in 2022. (See table 1.)

 --From 2022 to 2023, the unemployment rate of the foreign born edged up to 3.6 percent,
   while the jobless rate for the native born changed little at 3.6 percent. (See table 1.)

 --Hispanics continued to account for nearly one-half (47.6 percent) of the foreign-born
   labor force in 2023, and Asians accounted for one-quarter. (See table 1.) (Data in this
   news release for people who are White, Black, or Asian do not include those of Hispanic
   or Latino ethnicity. Data on people of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are presented 
   separately.)

 --Foreign-born men continued to participate in the labor force at a considerably higher
   rate in 2023 (77.5 percent) than their native-born counterparts (66.1 percent). By
   contrast, 56.1 percent of foreign-born women were labor force participants, lower than
   the participation rate of 57.6 percent for native-born women. (See table 1.)

 --In 2023, foreign-born workers were more likely than native-born workers to be employed
   in service occupations; natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations;
   and in 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
   $987 in 2023, compared with $1,140 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 2023, men accounted for 57.0 percent of the foreign-born labor
force, compared with 52.3 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 (70.3 percent) was higher
than for the native-born labor force (62.3 percent). Labor force participation typically
is highest among people in that age bracket. (See table 1.)

In 2023, nearly one-half (47.6 percent) of the foreign-born labor force was Hispanic, and
one-quarter (25.1 percent) was Asian. Hispanics and Asians made up much lower percentages
of the native-born labor force, at 12.5 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. Whites
comprised 15.3 percent of the foreign-born labor force and Blacks comprised 10.7 percent,
compared with 69.3 percent and 12.5 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 18.5 percent in 2023, much higher than the
figure for the native-born labor force, at 3.3 percent. The foreign born were less likely
than the native born to have some college or an associate degree--15.1 percent versus 27.1
percent. The proportions of foreign-born and native-born high school graduates (25.3 percent
versus 24.7 percent) and those with a bachelor's degree or higher (41.1 percent versus 45.0
percent) were more similar.

Labor Force

In 2023, the foreign born accounted for 18.6 percent of the U.S. civilian labor force, up
from 18.1 percent in 2022. In 2023, the labor force participation rate of the foreign born
increased to 66.6 percent. The rate for foreign-born women increased to 56.1 percent, while
the rate for foreign-born men changed little at 77.5 percent. The labor force participation
rate of the native born rose to 61.8 percent. The rate for native-born women increased to
57.6 percent, while the rate for men was little changed at 66.1 percent. (See table 1.)

Labor force participation rates for the foreign born varied across the major race and 
ethnicity groups in 2023, ranging from 60.7 percent for foreign-born Whites to 72.9 percent
for foreign-born Blacks. Participation rates for the native born showed less variation across
the major race and ethnicity groups, ranging from 61.0 percent for native-born Whites to 65.9
percent for native-born Hispanics.

Among the major race and ethnicity groups, the labor force participation rate of foreign-born
Hispanics increased to 68.2 percent in 2023. The rates for foreign-born Whites, Blacks, and
Asians showed little change over the year. Among the native born, the participation rate of
Blacks increased to 61.3 percent. The rates for native-born Whites, Asians, and Hispanics 
changed little from 2022 to 2023. 

In 2023, foreign-born mothers with children under age 18 were less likely to be labor force
participants than were native-born mothers--64.3 percent versus 77.1 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 3, the participation rate for foreign-born mothers was 53.5 percent, 16.1 percentage
points below that for native-born mothers, at 69.6 percent. By comparison, the labor force
participation rate of foreign-born mothers with children ages 6 to 17 (68.8 percent) was 12.0
percentage points lower than that for native-born mothers with children ages 6 to 17 (80.8
percent). The labor force participation rates of foreign-born and native-born fathers with
children under age 18 were more similar, at 93.6 percent and 93.3 percent, respectively. 
(See table 2.)

By region, the foreign born made up a larger share of the labor force in the West (23.9
percent) and in the Northeast (22.6 percent) in 2023 than for the nation as a whole (18.6 
percent). The foreign born made up a smaller share of the labor force than for the nation
as a whole in the South (18.1 percent) and the Midwest (10.1 percent). (See table 6.) 

Employment

In 2023, the employment-population ratio--the number of employed people as a percentage of
the civilian noninstitutional population--of the foreign born increased to 64.2 percent. The
ratio for foreign-born women rose to 53.9 percent, while the ratio for men was little changed
at 74.8 percent. The employment-population ratio of the native born rose to 59.5 percent. The
ratio for native-born women increased to 55.7 percent, while the ratio for men changed little
at 63.6 percent. (See table 1.) 
 
Unemployment

From 2022 to 2023, the unemployment rate of the foreign born edged up to 3.6 percent, while
the jobless rate for the native born changed little at 3.6 percent. 

The jobless rate in 2023 for the foreign born remained higher than its pre-pandemic 2019
level (3.1 percent), while the rate for the native born was below its pre-pandemic level 
(3.8 percent). The unemployment rates for both foreign-born men and women changed little in
2023, at 3.5 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. Among the native born, the rate for women
was down by 0.2 percentage point to 3.4 percent, while the rate for men was little changed at
3.9 percent. (See table 1.)

For both the foreign born and the native born, jobless rates vary considerably by race and
ethnicity. Among the foreign born, Hispanics had the highest unemployment rate in 2023 (4.1
percent), followed by Blacks (3.8 percent), Whites (3.2 percent), and Asians (2.8 percent).
Among the native born, jobless rates were highest for Blacks (5.9 percent), followed by 
Hispanics (5.1 percent), Asians (3.3 percent), and Whites (2.9 percent).

Occupation

In 2023, foreign-born workers were more likely than native-born workers to be employed in
service occupations (21.8 percent versus 15.0 percent); natural resources, construction, and
maintenance occupations (13.8 percent versus 7.8 percent); and production, transportation,
and material moving occupations (15.2 percent versus 11.8 percent). Foreign-born workers 
were less likely than native-born workers to be employed in management, professional, and 
related occupations (36.1 percent versus 45.4 percent) and in sales and office occupations
(13.0 percent versus 20.1 percent). (See table 4.)

Among employed men, the disparity was especially great in natural resources, construction,
and maintenance occupations--22.7 percent of the foreign born worked in this occupational
field in 2023, versus 14.0 percent of the native born. The occupational disparity for women
was pronounced in service occupations--30.5 percent of the foreign born worked in that 
occupation group, compared with 17.6 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 2023, median usual weekly earnings of foreign-born full-time wage and salary workers
($987) were 86.6 percent of the earnings of their native-born counterparts ($1,140). Among
men, median weekly earnings for the foreign born ($1,051) were 84.9 percent of the earnings
of the native born ($1,238). Median earnings for foreign-born women ($899) were 87.7 percent
of the earnings of native-born women ($1,025). (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 83.6 percent as much as their native-born counterparts in 2023. White and 
Black foreign-born workers earned more than their native-born counterparts, by 12.7 percent
and 5.7 percent, respectively. Asian foreign-born workers earned slightly more (2.7 percent)
than their native-born counterparts.

The earnings of both foreign-born and native-born workers increase with education. In 2023,
foreign-born workers age 25 and over with less than a high school diploma earned $692 per
week, while those with a bachelor's degree and higher earned 2.4 times as much--$1,637 per 
week. Among the native born, those with a bachelor's degree and higher earned 2.1 times as 
much as those with less than a high school diploma--$1,602 per week versus $748 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 are foreign 
born ($809) earned 88.0 percent as much as their native-born counterparts ($919) in 2023.
However, among those with a bachelor's degree and higher, the earnings of foreign-born 
workers ($1,637) were slightly higher than the earnings of native-born workers ($1,602).




Technical Note


   The estimates in this news 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 news 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.

   If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please
dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services

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 news release are
presented below.

   Foreign born. The foreign born are people 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 people 
in these categories.

   Native born. The native born are people 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 news release, the data are presented
for non-Hispanic Whites, Blacks, and Asians and for people of
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. These four groups are mutually exclusive
but not exhaustive. Other race groups (including people 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 news release differs from that
which appears in most analyses of CPS labor force data because people
of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are separated from the race groups.
Because people 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 news 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 people 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.
People 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. People 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
people 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 people,
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, 2022-2023 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic 2022 2023
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

263,973 164,287 62.2 158,291 5,996 3.6 266,942 167,116 62.6 161,037 6,080 3.6

Men

128,617 87,421 68.0 84,203 3,218 3.7 130,476 88,877 68.1 85,500 3,377 3.8

Women

135,356 76,866 56.8 74,089 2,778 3.6 136,466 78,239 57.3 75,537 2,702 3.5

FOREIGN BORN

Total, 16 years and over

45,150 29,755 65.9 28,737 1,017 3.4 46,651 31,051 66.6 29,932 1,119 3.6

Men

21,998 17,031 77.4 16,475 556 3.3 22,840 17,704 77.5 17,091 613 3.5

Women

23,152 12,724 55.0 12,262 462 3.6 23,811 13,347 56.1 12,841 506 3.8

Age

16 to 24 years

3,409 1,846 54.2 1,691 155 8.4 3,698 2,037 55.1 1,880 157 7.7

25 to 34 years

7,255 5,671 78.2 5,484 187 3.3 7,432 5,905 79.5 5,655 250 4.2

35 to 44 years

9,898 7,918 80.0 7,678 240 3.0 10,014 8,097 80.9 7,841 257 3.2

45 to 54 years

9,353 7,570 80.9 7,358 212 2.8 9,545 7,817 81.9 7,589 228 2.9

55 to 64 years

7,338 5,128 69.9 4,963 166 3.2 7,678 5,412 70.5 5,245 167 3.1

65 years and over

7,897 1,621 20.5 1,564 58 3.6 8,283 1,783 21.5 1,722 61 3.4

Race and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity(1)

White non-Hispanic or Latino

7,915 4,768 60.2 4,608 160 3.4 7,850 4,766 60.7 4,612 155 3.2

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

4,245 3,086 72.7 2,939 147 4.8 4,562 3,324 72.9 3,197 126 3.8

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

11,354 7,345 64.7 7,168 178 2.4 11,930 7,789 65.3 7,575 214 2.8

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

21,048 14,168 67.3 13,650 519 3.7 21,696 14,790 68.2 14,180 610 4.1

Educational attainment

Total, 25 years and over

41,741 27,908 66.9 27,047 862 3.1 42,953 29,015 67.5 28,052 962 3.3

Less than a high school diploma

9,076 5,100 56.2 4,878 222 4.4 9,315 5,371 57.7 5,129 241 4.5

High school graduates, no college(2)

10,990 7,109 64.7 6,874 235 3.3 11,299 7,338 64.9 7,067 271 3.7

Some college or associate degree

6,391 4,328 67.7 4,189 139 3.2 6,441 4,378 68.0 4,250 127 2.9

Bachelor's degree and higher(3)

15,284 11,371 74.4 11,105 266 2.3 15,897 11,928 75.0 11,606 322 2.7

NATIVE BORN

Total, 16 years and over

218,823 134,533 61.5 129,554 4,979 3.7 220,291 136,065 61.8 131,104 4,961 3.6

Men

106,619 70,390 66.0 67,727 2,663 3.8 107,636 71,173 66.1 68,409 2,764 3.9

Women

112,204 64,143 57.2 61,827 2,316 3.6 112,655 64,892 57.6 62,695 2,197 3.4

Age

16 to 24 years

34,548 19,246 55.7 17,687 1,559 8.1 35,641 20,092 56.4 18,492 1,600 8.0

25 to 34 years

36,913 31,054 84.1 29,816 1,238 4.0 37,095 31,398 84.6 30,182 1,216 3.9

35 to 44 years

33,101 27,753 83.8 26,946 806 2.9 33,440 28,333 84.7 27,559 775 2.7

45 to 54 years

30,641 24,871 81.2 24,295 576 2.3 30,414 24,990 82.2 24,397 593 2.4

55 to 64 years

34,807 22,332 64.2 21,798 534 2.4 33,724 21,839 64.8 21,317 522 2.4

65 years and over

48,813 9,276 19.0 9,011 266 2.9 49,977 9,412 18.8 9,157 255 2.7

Race and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity(1)

White non-Hispanic or Latino

154,438 94,061 60.9 91,292 2,769 2.9 154,634 94,343 61.0 91,617 2,726 2.9

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

27,612 16,698 60.5 15,636 1,062 6.4 27,814 17,045 61.3 16,039 1,006 5.9

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

5,019 3,207 63.9 3,091 116 3.6 5,181 3,343 64.5 3,232 111 3.3

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

25,123 16,433 65.4 15,650 783 4.8 25,836 17,027 65.9 16,162 865 5.1

Educational attainment

Total, 25 years and over

184,275 115,286 62.6 111,866 3,420 3.0 184,650 115,973 62.8 112,612 3,361 2.9

Less than a high school diploma

10,713 3,888 36.3 3,620 268 6.9 10,166 3,810 37.5 3,540 270 7.1

High school graduates, no college(2)

52,717 28,810 54.6 27,623 1,186 4.1 52,120 28,590 54.9 27,462 1,127 3.9

Some college or associate degree

50,149 31,316 62.4 30,334 982 3.1 50,485 31,425 62.2 30,463 962 3.1

Bachelor's degree and higher(3)

70,697 51,273 72.5 50,289 984 1.9 71,880 52,149 72.5 51,147 1,002 1.9

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, 2022-2023 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic 2022 2023
Total Men Women Total Men Women

FOREIGN BORN

With own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population

15,547 7,295 8,251 15,554 7,375 8,179

Civilian labor force

12,011 6,816 5,196 12,166 6,906 5,259

Participation rate

77.3 93.4 63.0 78.2 93.6 64.3

Employed

11,662 6,651 5,012 11,793 6,715 5,079

Employment-population ratio

75.0 91.2 60.7 75.8 91.0 62.1

Unemployed

349 165 184 372 191 181

Unemployment rate

2.9 2.4 3.5 3.1 2.8 3.4

With own children 6 to 17, none younger

Civilian noninstitutional population

9,210 4,250 4,960 9,390 4,423 4,966

Civilian labor force

7,313 3,933 3,381 7,514 4,098 3,416

Participation rate

79.4 92.5 68.2 80.0 92.6 68.8

Employed

7,103 3,836 3,267 7,291 3,985 3,307

Employment-population ratio

77.1 90.2 65.9 77.7 90.1 66.6

Unemployed

210 97 113 222 113 110

Unemployment rate

2.9 2.5 3.4 3.0 2.7 3.2

With own children under 6

Civilian noninstitutional population

6,337 3,045 3,291 6,164 2,952 3,212

Civilian labor force

4,698 2,883 1,815 4,652 2,809 1,843

Participation rate

74.1 94.7 55.1 75.5 95.2 57.4

Employed

4,559 2,815 1,744 4,502 2,730 1,772

Employment-population ratio

72.0 92.4 53.0 73.0 92.5 55.2

Unemployed

139 68 70 150 79 71

Unemployment rate

3.0 2.4 3.9 3.2 2.8 3.9

With own children under 3

Civilian noninstitutional population

3,298 1,596 1,703 3,250 1,557 1,693

Civilian labor force

2,412 1,514 897 2,382 1,477 905

Participation rate

73.1 94.9 52.7 73.3 94.8 53.5

Employed

2,336 1,473 864 2,304 1,437 866

Employment-population ratio

70.8 92.3 50.7 70.9 92.3 51.2

Unemployed

75 42 34 79 40 39

Unemployment rate

3.1 2.7 3.7 3.3 2.7 4.3

With no own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population

29,603 14,703 14,901 31,098 15,465 15,632

Civilian labor force

17,743 10,215 7,528 18,886 10,798 8,087

Participation rate

59.9 69.5 50.5 60.7 69.8 51.7

Employed

17,075 9,825 7,250 18,139 10,376 7,763

Employment-population ratio

57.7 66.8 48.7 58.3 67.1 49.7

Unemployed

668 390 278 747 422 325

Unemployment rate

3.8 3.8 3.7 4.0 3.9 4.0

NATIVE BORN

With own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population

47,482 21,128 26,354 47,006 21,095 25,911

Civilian labor force

39,624 19,596 20,028 39,638 19,673 19,965

Participation rate

83.5 92.7 76.0 84.3 93.3 77.1

Employed

38,551 19,193 19,358 38,664 19,285 19,378

Employment-population ratio

81.2 90.8 73.5 82.3 91.4 74.8

Unemployed

1,073 403 670 974 387 587

Unemployment rate

2.7 2.1 3.3 2.5 2.0 2.9

With own children 6 to 17, none younger

Civilian noninstitutional population

26,646 11,879 14,768 26,483 11,863 14,619

Civilian labor force

22,622 10,877 11,744 22,764 10,951 11,814

Participation rate

84.9 91.6 79.5 86.0 92.3 80.8

Employed

22,064 10,662 11,402 22,255 10,740 11,515

Employment-population ratio

82.8 89.8 77.2 84.0 90.5 78.8

Unemployed

558 215 343 509 210 299

Unemployment rate

2.5 2.0 2.9 2.2 1.9 2.5

With own children under 6

Civilian noninstitutional population

20,836 9,250 11,586 20,523 9,231 11,292

Civilian labor force

17,002 8,719 8,284 16,873 8,722 8,151

Participation rate

81.6 94.3 71.5 82.2 94.5 72.2

Employed

16,487 8,531 7,956 16,408 8,545 7,863

Employment-population ratio

79.1 92.2 68.7 80.0 92.6 69.6

Unemployed

516 188 328 465 177 288

Unemployment rate

3.0 2.2 4.0 2.8 2.0 3.5

With own children under 3

Civilian noninstitutional population

11,893 5,340 6,554 11,892 5,421 6,471

Civilian labor force

9,565 5,050 4,515 9,645 5,139 4,506

Participation rate

80.4 94.6 68.9 81.1 94.8 69.6

Employed

9,268 4,939 4,329 9,371 5,034 4,337

Employment-population ratio

77.9 92.5 66.1 78.8 92.9 67.0

Unemployed

298 111 186 275 105 169

Unemployment rate

3.1 2.2 4.1 2.8 2.0 3.8

With no own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population

171,342 85,491 85,850 173,285 86,541 86,744

Civilian labor force

94,909 50,794 44,115 96,427 51,500 44,927

Participation rate

55.4 59.4 51.4 55.6 59.5 51.8

Employed

91,003 48,534 42,469 92,440 49,123 43,317

Employment-population ratio

53.1 56.8 49.5 53.3 56.8 49.9

Unemployed

3,906 2,260 1,646 3,987 2,377 1,610

Unemployment rate

4.1 4.4 3.7 4.1 4.6 3.6

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, 2022-2023 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic 2022 2023
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

549 1,678 1,375 3,807 564 1,616 1,352 3,822

Civilian labor force

209 840 803 2,670 241 837 765 2,682

Participation rate

38.0 50.1 58.4 70.1 42.7 51.8 56.6 70.2

Employed

197 811 779 2,600 232 811 739 2,608

Employment-population ratio

35.9 48.3 56.6 68.3 41.1 50.2 54.6 68.2

Unemployed

11 29 24 70 9 26 26 74

Unemployment rate

5.5 3.5 3.0 2.6 3.7 3.1 3.5 2.8

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

376 1,055 900 1,503 402 1,167 906 1,654

Civilian labor force

206 734 674 1,266 207 818 698 1,382

Participation rate

54.8 69.6 74.9 84.3 51.5 70.1 77.0 83.5

Employed

192 698 639 1,234 197 779 679 1,343

Employment-population ratio

51.2 66.1 71.0 82.1 49.1 66.8 74.9 81.2

Unemployed

13 36 35 33 10 39 19 38

Unemployment rate

6.5 4.9 5.2 2.6 4.7 4.7 2.7 2.8

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

901 1,927 1,309 6,445 964 2,038 1,317 6,773

Civilian labor force

321 1,090 817 4,749 367 1,117 853 5,063

Participation rate

35.6 56.6 62.4 73.7 38.1 54.8 64.8 74.8

Employed

312 1,063 799 4,654 353 1,089 831 4,938

Employment-population ratio

34.6 55.2 61.1 72.2 36.6 53.4 63.1 72.9

Unemployed

9 27 17 95 14 28 23 125

Unemployment rate

2.8 2.5 2.1 2.0 3.9 2.5 2.6 2.5

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population

7,197 6,208 2,687 3,290 7,321 6,334 2,751 3,427

Civilian labor force

4,341 4,377 1,949 2,506 4,527 4,481 1,987 2,635

Participation rate

60.3 70.5 72.5 76.2 61.8 70.7 72.2 76.9

Employed

4,155 4,237 1,888 2,441 4,320 4,306 1,931 2,555

Employment-population ratio

57.7 68.3 70.3 74.2 59.0 68.0 70.2 74.5

Unemployed

186 140 60 64 207 175 56 80

Unemployment rate

4.3 3.2 3.1 2.6 4.6 3.9 2.8 3.1

NATIVE BORN

White non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

6,171 36,913 35,927 56,190 5,933 36,398 35,981 56,710

Civilian labor force

2,172 19,161 21,542 39,816 2,150 18,934 21,395 40,138

Participation rate

35.2 51.9 60.0 70.9 36.2 52.0 59.5 70.8

Employed

2,058 18,523 20,971 39,115 2,029 18,344 20,861 39,406

Employment-population ratio

33.4 50.2 58.4 69.6 34.2 50.4 58.0 69.5

Unemployed

114 638 571 701 121 589 535 732

Unemployment rate

5.2 3.3 2.7 1.8 5.6 3.1 2.5 1.8

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

2,054 7,907 6,824 6,122 1,845 7,717 6,837 6,495

Civilian labor force

650 4,476 4,482 4,667 634 4,391 4,503 4,974

Participation rate

31.7 56.6 65.7 76.2 34.4 56.9 65.9 76.6

Employed

576 4,171 4,260 4,529 559 4,104 4,295 4,861

Employment-population ratio

28.1 52.8 62.4 74.0 30.3 53.2 62.8 74.8

Unemployed

74 305 222 138 75 287 208 113

Unemployment rate

11.4 6.8 5.0 3.0 11.9 6.5 4.6 2.3

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

Civilian noninstitutional population

149 499 643 2,365 151 533 671 2,353

Civilian labor force

59 296 450 1,869 66 321 458 1,887

Participation rate

39.7 59.3 70.0 79.0 44.1 60.2 68.2 80.2

Employed

58 287 434 1,826 66 310 440 1,843

Employment-population ratio

38.9 57.6 67.5 77.2 43.9 58.3 65.6 78.3

Unemployed

1 8 16 44 0 10 17 45

Unemployment rate

1.9 2.8 3.5 2.3 0.3 3.1 3.7 2.4

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population

1,970 5,876 5,190 4,566 1,886 5,980 5,335 4,801

Civilian labor force

872 3,951 3,812 3,795 836 4,032 3,981 3,946

Participation rate

44.3 67.2 73.5 83.1 44.3 67.4 74.6 82.2

Employed

809 3,779 3,687 3,721 778 3,846 3,833 3,864

Employment-population ratio

41.0 64.3 71.0 81.5 41.2 64.3 71.8 80.5

Unemployed

64 172 125 74 58 186 148 82

Unemployment rate

7.3 4.3 3.3 2.0 7.0 4.6 3.7 2.1

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, 2023 annual averages [Percent distribution]
Occupation Foreign born Native born
Total Men Women Total Men Women

Total employed (in thousands)

29,932 17,091 12,841 131,104 68,409 62,695

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

36.1 33.6 39.5 45.4 41.1 50.0

Management, business, and financial operations occupations

14.5 14.3 14.8 20.0 20.7 19.3

Management occupations

10.0 11.0 8.8 13.7 15.0 12.2

Business and financial operations occupations

4.4 3.2 6.0 6.3 5.7 7.1

Professional and related occupations

21.6 19.3 24.7 25.4 20.4 30.7

Computer and mathematical occupations

5.8 7.3 3.8 3.6 5.1 2.0

Architecture and engineering occupations

2.3 3.2 1.1 2.2 3.6 0.7

Life, physical, and social science occupations

1.4 1.3 1.5 1.1 1.0 1.2

Community and social service occupations

0.9 0.5 1.4 2.0 1.2 2.9

Legal occupations

0.5 0.4 0.8 1.3 1.2 1.4

Education, training, and library occupations

3.7 2.1 5.7 6.3 3.2 9.7

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations

1.6 1.4 1.8 2.3 2.3 2.3

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

5.4 3.1 8.6 6.5 2.8 10.5

Service occupations

21.8 15.3 30.5 15.0 12.6 17.6

Healthcare support occupations

4.1 1.2 7.9 3.0 0.9 5.3

Protective service occupations

0.9 1.2 0.5 2.2 3.2 1.1

Food preparation and serving related occupations

6.6 5.8 7.5 4.7 4.1 5.5

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations

7.4 5.9 9.2 2.5 3.2 1.8

Personal care and service occupations

3.0 1.2 5.3 2.5 1.2 4.0

Sales and office occupations

13.0 9.7 17.5 20.1 15.0 25.7

Sales and related occupations

6.5 5.8 7.4 9.4 9.3 9.6

Office and administrative support occupations

6.6 3.9 10.0 10.7 5.7 16.1

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

13.8 22.7 2.0 7.8 14.0 0.9

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

1.3 1.6 0.9 0.5 0.7 0.3

Construction and extraction occupations

9.7 16.3 0.9 4.2 7.8 0.4

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

2.9 4.9 0.2 3.1 5.6 0.3

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

15.2 18.7 10.5 11.8 17.3 5.8

Production occupations

6.6 6.9 6.2 4.8 6.7 2.7

Transportation and material moving occupations

8.6 11.8 4.3 7.0 10.5 3.1

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, 2022-2023 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic 2022 2023
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

21,929 $945 96,940 $1,087 86.9 22,675 $987 98,232 $1,140 86.6

Men

12,974 1,000 52,580 1,185 84.4 13,447 1,051 53,253 1,238 84.9

Women

8,955 861 44,360 975 88.3 9,228 899 44,978 1,025 87.7

AGE

16 to 24 years

1,049 683 9,677 691 98.8 1,178 672 10,247 718 93.6

25 to 34 years

4,477 962 24,820 998 96.4 4,492 992 25,257 1,054 94.1

35 to 44 years

6,049 992 22,016 1,233 80.5 6,184 1,059 22,518 1,301 81.4

45 to 54 years

5,730 983 19,567 1,250 78.6 5,839 1,033 19,772 1,326 77.9

55 to 64 years

3,676 933 16,467 1,202 77.6 3,905 976 16,126 1,266 77.1

65 years and over

949 889 4,393 1,082 82.2 1,077 898 4,312 1,131 79.4

RACE AND HISPANIC OR
LATINO ETHNICITY(1)

White non-Hispanic or Latino

3,294 1,318 67,524 1,162 113.4 3,275 1,380 67,748 1,224 112.7

Black non-Hispanic or Latino

2,360 943 12,391 871 108.3 2,482 971 12,893 919 105.7

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

5,584 1,435 2,359 1,398 102.6 5,904 1,503 2,489 1,464 102.7

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

10,408 758 11,819 910 83.3 10,716 792 12,117 947 83.6

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over

20,881 968 87,263 1,150 84.2 21,497 1,012 87,984 1,206 83.9

Less than a high school diploma

3,748 663 2,454 708 93.6 3,694 692 2,353 748 92.5

High school graduates, no college(2)

5,157 767 21,277 879 87.3 5,298 809 21,029 919 88.0

Some college or associate degree

3,083 889 23,193 981 90.6 3,109 944 23,418 1,027 91.9

Bachelor's degree and higher(3)

8,893 1,581 40,338 1,537 102.9 9,397 1,637 41,185 1,602 102.2

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, 2022-2023 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
Census region and
division
2022 2023
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

9,443 6,201 65.7 5,962 240 3.9 9,882 6,564 66.4 6,300 264 4.0

New England

2,111 1,440 68.2 1,390 49 3.4 2,217 1,524 68.7 1,469 55 3.6

Middle Atlantic

7,332 4,762 64.9 4,571 190 4.0 7,665 5,040 65.7 4,831 209 4.1

South

16,072 10,774 67.0 10,449 325 3.0 16,885 11,451 67.8 11,097 354 3.1

South Atlantic

9,343 6,318 67.6 6,147 171 2.7 9,981 6,773 67.9 6,605 168 2.5

East South Central

926 617 66.6 599 18 3.0 867 591 68.2 568 23 3.9

West South Central

5,802 3,839 66.2 3,703 136 3.5 6,037 4,088 67.7 3,925 163 4.0

Midwest

5,164 3,552 68.8 3,437 116 3.3 5,149 3,547 68.9 3,422 125 3.5

East North Central

3,899 2,641 67.7 2,552 89 3.4 3,859 2,617 67.8 2,520 97 3.7

West North Central

1,265 911 72.0 885 26 2.9 1,290 930 72.1 902 28 3.0

West

14,471 9,227 63.8 8,890 337 3.7 14,735 9,489 64.4 9,113 376 4.0

Mountain

2,776 1,799 64.8 1,743 56 3.1 2,842 1,876 66.0 1,803 73 3.9

Pacific

11,695 7,429 63.5 7,148 281 3.8 11,893 7,613 64.0 7,310 303 4.0

NATIVE BORN

Northeast

36,639 22,502 61.4 21,594 908 4.0 36,458 22,522 61.8 21,679 844 3.7

New England

10,318 6,556 63.5 6,326 230 3.5 10,287 6,498 63.2 6,291 207 3.2

Middle Atlantic

26,321 15,945 60.6 15,268 677 4.2 26,171 16,024 61.2 15,388 636 4.0

South

84,813 50,751 59.8 49,000 1,751 3.5 85,967 51,755 60.2 50,007 1,748 3.4

South Atlantic

44,238 26,303 59.5 25,445 858 3.3 44,751 26,805 59.9 25,965 840 3.1

East South Central

14,498 8,320 57.4 8,037 283 3.4 14,705 8,381 57.0 8,111 270 3.2

West South Central

26,077 16,128 61.8 15,518 609 3.8 26,511 16,569 62.5 15,931 638 3.9

Midwest

49,363 31,264 63.3 30,174 1,090 3.5 49,588 31,633 63.8 30,548 1,085 3.4

East North Central

33,634 20,861 62.0 20,035 826 4.0 33,771 21,165 62.7 20,371 794 3.8

West North Central

15,730 10,403 66.1 10,139 264 2.5 15,817 10,468 66.2 10,177 290 2.8

West

48,008 30,016 62.5 28,787 1,230 4.1 48,278 30,155 62.5 28,870 1,285 4.3

Mountain

17,403 11,080 63.7 10,677 403 3.6 17,633 11,279 64.0 10,880 399 3.5

Pacific

30,604 18,937 61.9 18,110 826 4.4 30,645 18,876 61.6 17,990 886 4.7

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 21, 2024