Immigrants have long been a driving force in the American workforce, filling labor shortages, launching businesses, and fostering innovation. However, despite their significant contributions, many face challenges such as discrimination, wage disparities, and legal uncertainties. This blog explores the economic power of immigrant workers, the industries that rely on them, the challenges they face, and their long-term impact on the economy and society.

A Personal Story of Hard Work and Determination

Immigrants have long been a driving force in the U.S. economy, contributing across various industries through innovation, entrepreneurship, and hard work. Their stories highlight the resilience and determination that fuel economic growth and community development.

After fleeing Syria, Amina Aliako arrived in Philadelphia and began her journey as a janitor at Reading Terminal Market. Determined to build a better future, she eventually navigated the complexities of starting her own business and opened “Amina’s Foods,” a food stand offering authentic Syrian cuisine. Her entrepreneurial success not only helped her family but also enriched the city’s cultural and economic landscape.

In Wisconsin’s dairy industry, John Rosenow, a dairy farmer, has been a vocal advocate for immigrant labor. He recognizes that without the hard work of undocumented immigrant workers, many dairy farms, including his own, would struggle to survive. His advocacy underscores the importance of immigration policies that support the agricultural industry and ensure its sustainability.

In Atlanta, Georgia, Jamila Norman, the daughter of Caribbean immigrants, transformed urban spaces into thriving farms. With a background in environmental engineering, she founded Patchwork City Farms, an initiative that provides organic produce to local markets and restaurants. Her work has helped promote food security and sustainable urban agriculture, inspiring similar projects nationwide.

Historically, immigrants have played a crucial role in shaping American industries. Thomas Foon Chew, an immigrant from China, built one of the largest canneries in the U.S. in the early 20th century. His success in expanding his family’s business earned him the nickname “The Asparagus King,” solidifying his role in California’s agricultural industry and setting a precedent for immigrant entrepreneurship.

In Southwest Philadelphia, Musa Barry, an immigrant from Liberia, has dedicated himself to uplifting fellow entrepreneurs in his community. After achieving his own business success, he actively supports immigrant business owners on Woodland Avenue, helping them access resources and navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. His leadership has strengthened local economies and fostered cultural connections.

These real-life stories exemplify the diverse ways in which immigrants contribute to entrepreneurship, agriculture, and community leadership across the U.S. Their efforts create jobs, sustain essential industries, and drive long-term economic growth, reinforcing the vital role of immigrants in shaping America’s economy.

Immigrant Contributions to Major U.S. Companies

Many of America’s most successful companies were either founded by immigrants or heavily rely on immigrant labor to stay competitive. These companies have not only created jobs for millions of workers but have also driven technological advancements, economic growth, and industry innovation.

Tesla & Elon Musk

Elon Musk, an immigrant from South Africa, co-founded Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, three companies at the forefront of technology, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Tesla alone employs over 127,000 workers globally, many of whom are immigrants in engineering, factory work, and AI development. Tesla’s manufacturing plants in California, Texas, and Nevada depend on a large immigrant workforce to maintain production lines, develop advanced battery technologies, and expand the company’s ambitious global growth plans.

Google & Sergey Brin

Sergey Brin, an immigrant from the Soviet Union, co-founded Google, which today has over 150,000 employees globally, with a large portion being immigrants on H-1B visas. Google has actively lobbied for expanding skilled immigration programs, recognizing that immigrant talent is essential for maintaining the U.S.’s leadership in artificial intelligence, data science, and cloud computing. The company also runs initiatives like Google for Startups, which provides funding and mentorship to immigrant entrepreneurs, fostering new tech innovations.

Agricultural Giants & Immigrant Labor

Major agricultural companies, including Tyson Foods, Driscoll’s Berries, and Del Monte, rely heavily on immigrant labor to sustain food production. Over 70% of U.S. farmworkers are foreign-born, with a significant percentage working under H-2A temporary agricultural visas (USDA). Without immigrant labor, the agricultural sector would experience labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and increased food prices, which would impact both businesses and consumers nationwide.

Healthcare: The Role of Foreign-Trained Doctors

Immigrants make up one in four doctors in the U.S., with many coming from countries like India, the Philippines, and Nigeria. These physicians fill critical gaps in rural hospitals, underserved communities, and specialized medical fields. The American Medical Association has emphasized the need for immigration-friendly policies to address physician shortages, particularly in rural and low-income areas where medical professionals are scarce. Additionally, immigrant healthcare workers make up significant portions of nurses, pharmacists, and home health aides, ensuring that millions of Americans receive essential medical care every day.

By fostering immigrant-led innovation and workforce expansion, these companies highlight how immigrants fuel the U.S. economy across multiple industries, from cutting-edge technology to essential healthcare and food production.

The Numbers Behind Immigrant Labor

Immigrants play a critical role in the U.S. labor force, contributing to nearly every major industry, from agriculture and construction to healthcare and technology. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that immigrants make up 19.2% of the U.S. workforce, with a higher labor force participation rate (66.6%) compared to native-born workers (61.8%). This means that immigrants are more likely to be active in the job market, whether through employment or business ownership.

Key Statistics:

• 32 million immigrants are employed in the U.S. workforce, making up nearly one-fifth of all workers.
• 70% of agricultural workers are foreign-born, ensuring that U.S. farms and food supply chains remain functional (USDA).
• Immigrants own nearly 20% of all U.S. businesses, including high-tech startups, retail stores, and manufacturing firms, contributing trillions to the economy (New American Economy).
• One in four doctors and 38% of home health aides are immigrants, filling critical gaps in healthcare, especially in rural and underserved areas (Migration Policy Institute).

Beyond these numbers, immigrants directly contribute to economic growth by paying taxes, creating jobs, and filling labor shortages in industries experiencing worker deficits. The American Immigration Council reports that immigrants contribute $2 trillion to the U.S. GDP annually, which strengthens Social Security, Medicare, and local economies.

Additionally, the Brookings Institution found that cities with higher immigrant populations tend to have stronger economies, lower unemployment rates, and increased rates of small business creation. These trends highlight how immigrant labor fuels both local and national economic prosperity while ensuring that essential industries continue to thrive.

Case Study: New York City & Immigrant Small Businesses

In cities like New York, immigrant-owned small businesses have revitalized entire neighborhoods, fostering economic growth, cultural diversity, and job creation. With immigrants making up 37% of New York City’s population and nearly half of its workforce, their contributions to the economy are undeniable. The city is home to more than 50,000 immigrant-owned businesses, ranging from restaurants and retail shops to tech startups and manufacturing firms.

Immigrant Business Hubs in NYC

• Jackson Heights, Queens – A neighborhood with a majority immigrant population, Jackson Heights has over 2,000 immigrant-owned businesses, including restaurants, supermarkets, beauty salons, and retail shops that generate millions in local revenue. South Asian, Latin American, and East Asian immigrants have turned this neighborhood into a thriving commercial district, attracting both residents and tourists.
• Chinatown and Little Italy – These neighborhoods have been economic hubs for decades, with immigrant restaurant owners, shopkeepers, and wholesalers creating thousands of jobs in food service, hospitality, and trade. The Chinatown Partnership estimates that over 90% of businesses in Chinatown are immigrant-owned, generating millions in annual revenue and preserving cultural heritage.
• Brooklyn’s Tech Startup Scene – In recent years, Brooklyn has seen a rise in immigrant-founded startups, particularly in AI, blockchain, and e-commerce. Venture capital firms have increasingly invested in immigrant-led businesses, recognizing the innovative potential of diverse entrepreneurs. According to the Center for an Urban Future, immigrant entrepreneurs account for nearly half of all small business growth in NYC.

Immigrant-owned businesses in New York City create tens of thousands of jobs, not just for fellow immigrants but also for native-born residents. Many of these businesses also support local economies by reinvesting in community services, real estate, and public infrastructure.

Additionally, programs like NYC Small Business Services (SBS) and the New York Immigrant Business Initiative provide resources, grants, and mentorship programs to help immigrants launch and scale their businesses. With supportive policies and access to capital, immigrant-owned businesses in NYC continue to drive economic prosperity and urban renewal, making it a prime example of how immigrant entrepreneurship strengthens the U.S. economy.

The Impact of Historical Immigration Policies on Today’s Workforce

Immigration policies have shaped the U.S. labor market for decades, influencing the availability of workers, economic growth, and industry development. Some of the most significant policies have either expanded opportunities for immigrant labor or restricted the flow of skilled and essential workers, affecting multiple sectors.

Bracero Program (1942-1964)

During World War II, the U.S. faced severe labor shortages in agriculture, leading to the creation of the Bracero Program, which brought Mexican laborers into the U.S. to work on farms. This program was essential in sustaining food production, allowing crops to be harvested while many American workers were deployed overseas. At its peak, the program employed nearly 500,000 Mexican workers per year. While the program was later discontinued, it set a precedent for temporary agricultural work visas, such as the H-2A program used today.

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

This landmark law removed racial and nationality-based quotas, opening immigration to Asia, Latin America, and Africa. It prioritized family reunification and skilled labor, which led to an increase in highly educated immigrants entering the U.S. Many of today’s STEM professionals, doctors, and entrepreneurs trace their family roots to this policy change. The Act also helped the U.S. develop a more diverse workforce, contributing to its global competitiveness in technology, medicine, and finance.

DACA (2012) – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

The DACA program provided temporary work permits and deportation relief for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. These young immigrants, often called “Dreamers,” filled critical labor gaps in education, healthcare, technology, and social services. Many DACA recipients work as teachers, nurses, and engineers, and their participation in the workforce has added billions to the U.S. economy annually. However, DACA remains a temporary solution, and its legal challenges create uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of workers.

The Impact of More Restrictive Policies

In contrast to expansionist immigration policies, recent restrictive policies have created labor shortages. For example:

• Trump’s Executive Orders (2017-2020) imposed new limits on H-1B visas, affecting highly skilled foreign workers in technology, engineering, and medicine. This led to a decline in international talent entering U.S. companies, forcing some firms to outsource jobs.
• Increased Restrictions on H-2A and H-2B visas reduced the number of temporary agricultural and seasonal workers, causing crop losses and price increases in the food industry.
• Tighter asylum and refugee policies limited workers in hospitality, elder care, and construction, industries that historically rely on immigrant labor.

The long-term effects of restrictive immigration policies have already been felt across multiple industries, with reports from the Economic Policy Institute and Brookings Institution warning that continued workforce shortages could stunt economic growth, reduce productivity, and drive up labor costs.

As the U.S. looks to the future, immigration reform will play a key role in ensuring that industries have the workers they need while providing legal and economic security for immigrants who have long contributed to the country’s prosperity

Conclusion: The Future of Immigrant Labor in the U.S.

By implementing fair policies, expanding worker protections, and recognizing the economic role of immigrants, the U.S. can build a stronger, more inclusive workforce that benefits businesses, communities, and the economy as a whole. A balanced immigration system ensures that skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and essential laborers can continue contributing to the nation’s prosperity, keeping America competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.

Rather than viewing immigration as a challenge, it should be embraced as an economic strength—one that fuels growth, resilience, and innovation. The success of immigrant entrepreneurs, workers, and scientists is a testament to the opportunities America provides and the undeniable impact immigrants have in shaping its future.

With forward-thinking policies, investments in workforce development, and protections for immigrant laborers, the U.S. can harness the full potential of its diverse workforce. By doing so, the country can continue leading in technology, business, and industry, ensuring that economic success is shared across all communities. Recognizing, supporting, and integrating immigrants into the economy is not just a moral imperative—it is a necessity for long-term national prosperity.

Interested in digging deeper?  Check out these sources.

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• Debnath, A. (2024, January 18). John Rosenow on staffing a dairy farm with immigrant labor. PBS Wisconsin. https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/john-rosenow-on-staffing-a-dairy-farm-with-immigrant-labor/

• Patchwork City Farms. (n.d.). Our story. https://www.patchworkcityfarms.com/our-story

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• Williams, C. C. (2022, November 7). The entrepreneur lifting up Southwest Philly’s “Little Africa”. Next City. https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/the-entrepreneur-lifting-up-southwest-phillys-little-africa

• Tesla, Inc. (n.d.). Elon Musk: Co-founder & CEO of Tesla. Tesla. https://www.tesla.com/elon-musk

• Wikipedia contributors. (2023, September 21). Sergey Brin. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Brin

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• U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Agricultural labor & immigrant workforce data. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-labor/

• Pew Research Center. (2024, September 27). Key findings about U.S. immigrants. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/27/key-findings-about-us-immigrants/

• American Immigration Council. (n.d.). State-by-state immigrant economic contributions. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org

• Economic Policy Institute. (n.d.). Immigrant labor force and economic contributions. https://www.epi.org

• Statista. (n.d.). Industries with the highest share of immigrant workers. https://www.statista.com/chart/17068/industries-with-highest-share-of-unauthorized-immigrant-workers/

• Brookings Institution. (n.d.). Economic growth and immigration policies. https://www.brookings.edu/topic/immigration/

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