Immigration’s role in the tight U.S. labor market
May 9, 2022

Immigration’s role in the tight U.S. labor market

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A sharp decline in immigration to the U.S. could be contributing to the country’s labor shortage. According to research from economists at the University of California, Davis, the country had 2 million fewer working-age immigrants at the end of 2021 than it would have had if pre-pandemic immigration trends had continued. We spoke to Marketplace senior economics contributor Chris Farrell about the consequences of the decline in immigration. Plus, we talk to Julia Coronado, founder of MacroPolicy Perspectives, about what's driving the latest market volatility. And, how far does the U.S. economy have to go before it makes up all of the jobs that were lost to the pandemic?

Segments From this episode

We're about 3.5 million potential jobs short of a full recovery

May 9, 2022
We’ve now regained more jobs than we lost early in the pandemic in some sectors.
Now Hiring signs are displayed in front of restaurants in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on March 19, 2022. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP) (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

As labor shortage persists, fewer immigrants means fewer workers

The U.S. had 2 million fewer working-age immigrants at the end of 2021 than it would have had if pre-pandemic trends continued.
The decline in immigration may be contributing to the scarcity of workers relative to employers' needs. Immigrants are also well-represented among the ranks of entrepreneurs.
Oliver Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The team

Victoria Craig Host, BBC
Stephen Ryan Senior Producer, BBC
Jonathan Frewin Producer, BBC
Jay Siebold Technical Director
Meredith Garretson Morbey Senior Producer
Erika Soderstrom Producer
Rose Conlon Producer
Alex Schroeder Producer
Redmond Carolipio Digital Producer
Ariana Rosas Producer
Jesson Duller Media Producer