According to data released today by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, foreign-born residents are a critical part of the New Jersey workforce and participate in the labor force at higher rates than native-born residents.
Nationally, foreign-born workers accounted for a record-high 18.1% of the U.S. civilian labor force in 2022, often working in professions with the most critical labor shortages like healthcare and social services. Moreover, a greater percentage of foreign-born workers (65.9%) are either employed or actively looking for work, compared to native-born workers (61.5%).
Stockton Professor of Economics Ramya Devan and Hughes Center Research Assistant Madison Giusti analyzed the latest available county-level Census data to assess how the New Jersey labor market compares to these national trends.
Some of the key findings include:
“Contrary to the negative perceptions around immigration and its impact on the economy, actual labor market trends suggest it’s a boon,” said Devan. “The data shows that immigrant workers are vital to the New Jersey workforce.”
The data is from the 2022 Census ACS and foreign-born refers to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen at birth, including naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents, temporary migrants or refugees, and unauthorized migrants.
You can read the full story and view the data here.
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