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How Does Immigration Fit into the Future of the U.S. Labor Market?

Author

Listed:
  • Orrenius, Pia M.

    (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas)

  • Zavodny, Madeline

    (University of North Florida)

  • Gullo, Stephanie

    (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas)

Abstract

U.S. GDP growth is anticipated to remain sluggish over the next decade, and slow labor force growth is a key underlying reason. Admitting more immigrants is one way U.S. policymakers can bolster growth in the workforce and the economy. A larger role for immigrant workers also can help mitigate other symptoms of the economy's long-run malaise, such as low productivity growth, declining domestic geographic mobility, and falling entrepreneurship, as well as help address the looming mismatch between the skills U.S. employers want and the skills U.S. workers have. While some might argue that technological change and globalization mean there is less need to admit immigrant workers, such arguments fail to account for both recent data and historical experience. Of course, immigration—like anything else—is not without costs, which are disproportionately borne by the least educated. A plan to increase employment-based immigration as a way to spur economic growth could be paired with new programs to help low-skilled U.S. natives and earlier immigrants so that the benefits of immigration are shared more equitably.

Suggested Citation

  • Orrenius, Pia M. & Zavodny, Madeline & Gullo, Stephanie, 2020. "How Does Immigration Fit into the Future of the U.S. Labor Market?," IZA Discussion Papers 13013, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13013
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    Cited by:

    1. Javed, Mohsin, 2023. "Robots, Natives and Immigrants in US local labor markets," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    2. Yang Liuyi & Zhu Yunchan & Ren Feirong, 2023. "Does government investment push up manufacturing labor costs? Evidence from China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Salma Ahmed & Aviel Avshalumov & Tania Chaar & Eshini Ekanayake & Helen Lao & Louis Poirier & Jenna Rolland-Mills & Argyn Toktamyssov & Lin Xiang, 2023. "Assessing global potential output growth and the US neutral rate: April 2023," Staff Analytical Notes 2023-5, Bank of Canada.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    U.S. immigration policy; labor market trends;

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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