The Cost of Illegal Immigration: A Decades-Long Trend
A new study by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) has sounded the alarm on the growing issue of illegal immigration and its impact on the American workforce. The study reveals that the share of native-born American men not participating in the labor force has nearly doubled since the 1960s, from 11.3% in 1960 to 22.1% in 2024.
This trend is particularly concerning as it coincides with a rise in immigration. The CIS argues that policymakers should focus on encouraging work among those on the economic sidelines, rather than ignoring the issue by bringing in more immigrants.
The report also highlights the total number of U.S.-born men and women of working age who are not in the labor force, which has increased by 8.5 million since 2000 to 43 million in 2024. Meanwhile, the number of working-age immigrant men participating in the labor force has increased by 14.1 million over the same period.
Furthermore, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the net job growth in America over the past year can be attributed entirely to laborers born outside the U.S. The Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni noted that there are now 1.1 million fewer native-born Americans employed than a year ago, while all net job growth has gone to foreign-born workers.
The trend of U.S.-born workers leaving the workforce while foreign-born workers replace them shows no signs of slowing down. The Biden administration has overseen the highest net immigration numbers in U.S. history, with more than half of that due to illegal immigration. Policymakers must consider the growing problem of illegal immigration and its impact on the American workforce.
