Discussion Paper
The Foreign-Born Workforce in the Fifth District
Abstract: In recent years, foreign-born workers have played an important role in shaping regional labor market dynamics. After travel restrictions created a lull in international immigration during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a subsequent surge in international immigration grew the foreign-born labor force to a level that exceeded previous trend growth in the U.S. and the Fifth District (Chart 1). The increased number of foreign-born workers helped to ease labor market tightness and even shifted how we think about key labor market metrics. Across the Fifth District, the implications of changes in the foreign-born workforce will differ, as there are notable differences in the concentration of these workers across industry and geography — including across rural and urban spaces.
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https://www.richmondfed.org/region_communities/regional_data_analysis/regional_matters/2025/foreign-born_workforce_fifth_district
Description: Discussion Paper
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Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Part of Series: Regional Matters
Publication Date: 2025-09-04