U.S. Experiences Its Largest Annual Increase in Immigrant Population in More Than Two Decades

A recent report revealed that a "storm" is rising as the U.S. is expected to face a shortage of six million workers before 2030, behind a combination of factors including retirements, mismatches between workers and available jobs and a decline in workforce participation among men is set to drive.

However, analysts believe one solution could already be brewing inside the country's border: immigration. Besides making up 18.6% of the country's labor force at the moment, immigrants tend to be younger when they arrive in the U.S.

A new study by Pew Research Center also provides several reasons why immigration could provide a solution for the shortage as it revealed that 2023 saw the largest annual increase in the immigrant population of the United States in more than two decades. With 1.6 million new arrivals, the total foreign-born population of the country spiked to 47.8 million.

This surge, the largest since 2000, pushed immigrants to make up 14.3% of the U.S. population, a proportion last seen in 1910 but still below the record 14.8% in 1890.

The rise in immigration is primarily driven by legal arrivals, with countries like Mexico, India, and China contributing the largest numbers. Mexican-born individuals remain the largest immigrant group, comprising 23% of the total immigrant population in the U.S., followed by immigrants from India (6%), China (5%), and the Philippines (4%).

As the U.S. economy recovers from the pandemic, demand for foreign-born workers, particularly in sectors like healthcare and technology, continues to rise. This demand has contributed to the increase in legal immigration.

The population of unauthorized immigrants also saw major growth. In 2022, there were approximately 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the country, up from 10.2 million in 2019. This increase marks the first sustained rise in this group since 2007. However, nearly three-quarters of immigrants in the U.S. are living here legally, with 49% of them being naturalized citizens.

The U.S. remains the country with the largest immigrant population in the world, accounting for about a fifth of all international migrants. Asian-born individuals make up 28% of all U.S. immigrants while those from Latin America, excluding Mexico, accounting for 27%. Immigrants from Europe and Canada make up about 12%.

Despite the overall growth in the immigrant population, debates around immigration continue to dominate U.S. politics. These issues have been central in the 2024 presidential election, where former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have contrasting approaches to immigration policy.