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Foreign-born US workers reach pre-pandemic level, census shows

Hispanics continued to account for nearly half of the foreign-born labour force in 2021, and Asians accounted for one quarter.

AFP
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A man walks towards a construction site May 4, in Washington, DC. Photo: AFP
A man walks towards a construction site May 4, in Washington, DC. Photo: AFP

The number of foreign-born workers in the US neared pre-pandemic levels last year, reaching 17.4%, according to government data released Wednesday.

The foreign-born labour force increased by 671,000 compared to 2020, rising to 27.9 million, the Labor Department said.

However, it remains below the pre-pandemic level of 28.4 million.

The unemployment rate for that group fell to 5.6% in 2021 from 9.2% the prior year.

The size of the native-born labour force was essentially unchanged last year, though the jobless rate also fell sharply, dropping to 5.3% from 7.8%, the report said.

The shortage of workers has become an increasing problem in the US economy, fuelling inflation as companies struggle to fill open positions and bid up wages.

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday repeated the concern, noting that “if you have a slower growing labour market, you’re going to have a smaller economy.”

US unemployment in April was 3.6%, only a hair above the pre-pandemic level, but labour force participation has not fully recovered.

Hispanics continued to account for nearly half of the foreign-born labour force in 2021, and Asians accounted for one quarter.