Immigration and the Shortage of American Workers

In 2016, immigration to the U.S. began to fall, and after bottoming out at the outset of COVID-19, rebounded in 2021 and 2022. This rebound occurred at a time when labor force participation was at its lowest point in over four decades. Over a longer horizon, the aging of the U.S. population will lead to a decline in the native-born labor force. Could greater immigration help alleviate labor market shortages? Would immigrants take jobs from native-born Americans, and force down wages? To answer these and other questions, EconoFact Chats welcomes back Professor Giovanni Peri of the University of California at Davis. Giovanni is the founding director of the Global Migration Center at UC Davis.