Immigrants currently represent approximately 19% of the U.S. workforce, playing a critical role in the health care, construction, and agricultural sectors. Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and KFF analysis indicate that while the total number of foreign-born workers has remained stable, shifts in citizenship status and visa policies continue to reshape the labor market. As the U.S. population ages, the reliance on immigrant labor in essential services—particularly in long-term care—remains a significant factor in addressing persistent workforce shortages.
How Immigrants Support the U.S. Health Care System
Immigrants fill roughly 17% of all health care positions in the United States, providing essential services in both clinical and non-clinical roles. According to KFF research, immigrants account for 28% of all physicians and surgeons and 30% of direct care workers in long-term care settings.
The diversity of the health care workforce is notable, with professionals from the Philippines, Mexico, and India representing the largest shares of foreign-born staff. In hospital settings, immigrants are highly represented in both high-skill roles, such as surgery, and essential support roles, including building maintenance and food service. This distribution highlights a dual dependency: the system relies on immigrant expertise for specialized medical care and on immigrant labor for the daily operations that keep facilities functional.
Trends in the Foreign-Born Workforce
Between early 2025 and mid-2026, the composition of the immigrant workforce underwent measurable changes. While the total count of immigrant workers held steady, the number of noncitizen immigrant workers decreased by approximately 600,000, according to KFF analysis of Census Bureau data. This decline was balanced by an increase of over 800,000 naturalized citizen workers.
These fluctuations are often tied to shifts in immigration policy, including changes to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and visa processing times. When noncitizen participation drops, industries that rely heavily on these workers—such as agriculture, where immigrants make up 33% of the workforce, and construction, at 26%—face immediate challenges in recruitment and retention.
Economic Implications of Workforce Shifts
The U.S. economy faces a demographic challenge as the share of the population aged 65 and older continues to rise. This "silver tsunami" increases the demand for home health aides, nursing assistants, and personal care aides. Because immigrants are overrepresented in these direct care roles, any policy-driven reduction in the immigrant workforce directly impacts the availability of long-term care for the elderly.
Economists from the Economic Policy Institute suggest that labor shortages in these sectors often lead to higher costs for facilities and reduced access to care for patients. As the gap between the demand for health services and the supply of available workers grows, the role of foreign-born professionals remains a central point of discussion in national labor policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of the U.S. health care workforce is foreign-born?
Immigrants make up approximately 17% of the total health care workforce, though this percentage is significantly higher in specific roles, such as physicians (28%) and long-term care workers (30%).
Which industries rely most heavily on immigrant labor?
Beyond health care, immigrants account for 33% of the agricultural workforce and 26% of the construction industry, according to KFF data.
How does citizenship status affect workforce statistics?
Naturalized citizens and noncitizen immigrants contribute differently to the labor market. Recent data show that while the number of noncitizen workers has fluctuated due to policy changes, the number of naturalized citizen workers has increased, helping to stabilize overall employment numbers in key sectors.
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