The number of foreign-born workers in the United States has declined by nearly one million since President Donald Trump took office in January, reversing a trend that had driven much of the country’s job growth in 2024, according to Labor Department data released Friday.
The foreign-born population dropped by 1.9 million people between January and August, from 50.4 million to 48.5 million, while employment among foreign-born workers fell by 1 million over the same period, government data show. The decline represents a stark turnaround from 2024, when the foreign-born workforce expanded by more than 2 million people.
The shift coincides with the Trump administration’s renewed focus on border security and immigration enforcement, suggesting that policy changes are reshaping the composition of the American workforce in ways that could have lasting economic implications. This represents a dramatic reversal from 2024, when foreign-born workers were essentially the entire source of labor force growth.
The data, drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly employment surveys, captures all foreign-born workers regardless of legal status. The surveys do not distinguish between those in the country legally and illegal aliens.
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The timing of the workforce shift aligns closely with Trump’s inauguration and the implementation of stricter immigration policies. Since taking office, the administration has increased deportations, expanded workplace enforcement, and tightened rules for asylum seekers and temporary workers
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In August, the U.S. economy added just 22,000 jobs, well below expectations, while the unemployment rate edged up to 4.3 percent. The weak job growth occurred despite unemployment among foreign-born workers actually falling to 4.4 percent, below the 4.6 percent rate for native-born workers.
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The scale of the reversal is particularly striking when viewed against recent trends. Throughout 2024, foreign-born workers accounted for most of the growth in the U.S. labor force. The foreign-born population grew by 2.9 million people that year, with 2.1 million joining the workforce and 2 million finding employment.
The January 2025 employment report included significant upward revisions to population estimates, partly reflecting the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ efforts to capture immigration trends more accurately. {snip}
Now, just eight months later, nearly all of that foreignization of the U.S. workforce gains has been reversed.
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