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A record number of native-born Americans of working age are out of the labor market as foreign-born workers account for all net job growth under the Biden administration.

“The share of U.S.-born men not in the labor force — neither working nor looking for work — has increased dramatically since the 1960s, particularly for those without a bachelor’s degree,” the report stated.

The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) found that 43 million working-age U.S.-born people were out of the labor force, compared to 8.5 million in 2000. This category does not include the “unemployed” people who lost their jobs or are actively looking for jobs.

“This does not include the 9.7 million immigrant men and women not in the labor force nor does it include 5.8 million immigrant and U.S.-born unemployed,” the report explained.

The sobering report found that the number of working-age (16 to 64) U.S.-born men not in the labor force increased from 11.3% in 1960 to 16.9% in 2000 and 22.1% in 2024.

Similarly, the percentage of prime working-age (25-54 years) U.S.-born men out of work increased from 4% in 1960 to 8.5% in 2000 and 11.6% in 2024.

The percentage of U.S.-born women out of the labor force was even worse, with 28.6% of those within working age (16-64) out of the market, “above the level pre-Covid, but below the low of 27.6 percent in 2000.”

The total number of American-born men and women of working age (16-64) out of the labor force was 43 million in 2024, compared to 8.5 million in 2000.

The report disputed the narrative that immigrants were welcome to solve labor shortages when many native-born Americans were out of work.

“This is relevant to the immigration debate because one of the arguments for allowing in so many legal immigrants, or even tolerating illegal immigration, is that there are not enough workers.”

While immigrants seemingly directly replace native-born Americans, their impact on the labor market was equally significant, especially on wage rates. 

According to CIS CIS Director of Research Steven Camarota, controlling net immigration would increase wages, thus encouraging more native-born Americans to work.

“Reducing immigration would cause wages to rise, incentivizing work and compelling policymakers to undertake much-needed reforms in welfare and disability programs.”

Even worse, many jobless U.S.-born citizens are not considered “unemployed” because they are not actively looking for work, thus downplaying the number of unemployed people.

The report reinforces the recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report that showed 1.1 million fewer native-born Americans were employed while immigrants took 400,000 new jobs.

E.J. Antoni noted that “all net job growth has gone to foreign-born workers,” with “foreign-born employment is at its pre-pandemic growth trend, accounting for all net job growth over the last 5 years.”

He also says, “native-born employment has never returned to its pre-pandemic trend and is now below its pre-pandemic level,” at just 619,000. 

Similarly, the CIS report found that while U.S.-born unemployment rates returned to pre-pandemic levels, “it remains extremely high by historical standards.”

Subsequently, CIS advised policymakers to prioritize getting more Americans to work instead of “bringing in ever more immigrants” to solve labor shortages.

They warned that while immigrants solve immediate labor needs, having more native-born Americans out of the labor force fueled crime, welfare dependency, drug overdose, and other social vices that destroy the country.