Immigrants and the U.S. Economy

The US depends on immigrants for workers in high technology and workers in service jobs in hotels, restaurants, nursing homes and home health care. But not many are coming, contrary to popular belief. Net migration to the US, authorized and un-authorized, was 247,000 in the year running from July 2020 to July 2021. This was the smallest number in the last 30 years. Much of the decrease can be explained by Covid, but the decline began before Covid and this earlier decline was due to the Trump administration’s policies, from restrictions on immigration from Muslim countries to the addition of interviews and raising of fees to building walls.

The result of fewer immigrants is unfilled job vacancies across the skills spectrum. In an era of low US birth rates immigrants fill the gaps in the economy. Without them economic growth will be slower, and needs will not be met. For example, nursing homes may close, as people in this area are well aware. (Source: The Economist, 7/20/22)