An analysis based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) Household Survey indicates that nearly 80% of the net new jobs
created in the country since the period before the COVID-19 pandemic have been
filled by people born outside the United States.
The information, published by Leading Report and based on
figures from February 2020 to May 2026, indicates that the growth of the U.S.
labor market has been largely driven by the influx of immigrant workers.
According to the analysis, approximately eight out of every ten net new jobs
created during that period were filled by foreign-born employees.
The report has reignited the debate about the role of
immigration in the U.S. economy. While some experts argue that the influx of
foreign workers has helped address labor shortages in sectors such as
construction, agriculture, services, healthcare, and technology, others believe
the trend presents challenges related to immigration policies, job competition,
and wage growth.
The data also reflect the demographic shifts in the U.S.
workforce following the pandemic, a period in which many companies faced
difficulties hiring and relied more heavily on immigrant workers to fill
vacancies across various sectors of the economy.
However, it is important to clarify that this statistic
refers to the net job growth between these two population groups and does not
imply that foreign-born workers have filled 80% of all jobs in the United
States. The interpretation of these figures remains a subject of ongoing
analysis among economists, policymakers, and labor market specialists.