Immigrants Drive Job Growth as Native-Born Employment Drops, Data Show

‘One of the reasons that there has been an increase in foreign-born workers obtaining a job is because American men are sitting on the sidelines,’ expert says.

A "now hiring" sign at a Home Depot store in San Rafael, Calif., on Aug. 5, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Immigration to the United States—both legal and illegal—has soared over the past few years, and the influx of newcomers is altering the state of the national labor market.

Since late 2019, there has been a divergence between U.S.- and foreign-born employment levels, with the gap widening over the past year.