A recent analysis by Revelio Labs, a prominent data analytics firm, reveals that the United States' immigrant workforce is expanding more rapidly than its native-born counterpart, even amidst intensified immigration enforcement and widely reported mass deportations. This finding suggests a potential discrepancy in official labor statistics, possibly stemming from a decreased willingness among immigrants to engage with government surveys.
Immigrant Workforce Continues to Drive U.S. Labor Market Growth
In a compelling report, Revelio Labs highlights that the growth of the foreign-born workforce in the U.S. has maintained a significant lead over the native-born population. Despite the implementation of more stringent immigration policies and widespread deportation efforts under recent administrations, foreign-born individuals have consistently entered the labor market at a swifter pace. Specifically, since 2021, the foreign-born workforce has expanded by an average of 4% annually, notably higher than the 1.2% yearly increase observed in the native-born workforce during the same period. This trend persisted even after 2025, when a slowdown was noted following the inauguration of President Trump.
This private-sector data challenges the conclusions of a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, which indicated a decline of 2.2 million immigrant workers between January and July 2025. Economists Loujaina Abdelwahed and Lisa K. Simon from Revelio Labs argue that such a drastic reduction in a short timeframe is unlikely. They propose that the apparent decrease in official figures might be attributable to a growing reluctance among immigrant communities to participate in government surveys, likely driven by concerns for safety and privacy amidst heightened enforcement. Consequently, traditional government data sources may be presenting a misleading picture of the actual immigrant labor force. Revelio Labs' methodology, which bypasses survey-based data, instead relies on professional profiles from platforms like LinkedIn. This approach analyzes factors such as initial job location, educational background, and language proficiency to identify foreign-born individuals, thus mitigating potential biases inherent in self-reported government surveys.
The implications for the U.S. economy are substantial. If Revelio's data accurately reflects the ongoing growth of the immigrant workforce, the economy must generate a considerably higher number of jobs each month than currently projected to prevent an increase in the unemployment rate. Revelio Labs estimates that approximately 32,000 to 97,000 new jobs are needed monthly to maintain employment stability. This contrasts sharply with the American Enterprise Institute's more conservative estimate of 10,000 to 40,000 jobs per month. For instance, in August, the U.S. economy added 22,000 jobs. Under Revelio's assumptions, this figure would suggest a deteriorating job market, whereas under AEI's assumptions, it would indicate stability. This divergence underscores the critical importance of accurate labor market data, particularly concerning the dynamic contributions of immigrant workers, for informed economic policy-making and a comprehensive understanding of the nation's employment landscape.