Immigrant workers made up 18.6% of the workforce last year, a new record, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Immigrant workers made up 18.6% of the workforce last year, a new record, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Workers are taking open positions in agriculture, technology and health care, fields where labor supply has been a challenge for those looking to hire."We don't have enough workers participating in the labor force and our birth rate has dropped down 2% last year from 2022 to 2023. … These folks are not taking jobs.
Nonprofit faith-based eldercare facility Goodwin Living in Northern Virginia, which cares for 2,500 older adults day-to-day, is heavily reliant on immigrant workers. Some 40% of its 1,200 workers are foreign-born, representing 65 countries, according to CEO Rob Liebreich, and more workers will be needed to fill increasing gaps as Americans age and need assistance.
Wilner Vialer, 35, began working at Goodwin four years ago and serves as an environmental services team lead, setting up and cleaning rooms. Vialer, who came to the U.S. 13 years ago from Haiti, lost his job during the pandemic and was given an opportunity at Goodwin because his mother had been employed at the facility.
"This program is a good opportunity," Vialer said."They help me, I have a family back home. … This job really support me when I get my paycheck to help them back home."