Full text of 2004 : Text File, USDL 05-834
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Technical information: (202) 691-6378 USDL 05-834
http://www.bls.gov/cps/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact: 691-5902 Thusrday, May 12, 2005
LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS OF FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS IN 2004
The unemployment rate for the foreign born fell to 5.5 percent in
2004, down from 6.6 percent in the prior year, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The job-
less rate of the native born also fell to 5.5 percent in 2004, declin-
ing from 5.9 percent in the previous year.
This news release compares the labor force characteristics of the
foreign born with those of their native-born counterparts. The data on
nativity are collected as part of the Current Population Survey (CPS),
a monthly sample survey of approximately 60,000 households. The foreign
born are persons who reside in the United States but who were born out-
side the country or one of its outlying areas to parents who were not
U.S. citizens. For further information about the survey, see the
Technical Note.
Labor Force and Unemployment
In 2004, there were 21.4 million foreign-born persons in the United
States labor force, comprising 14.5 percent of the total. (See table 1.)
From 2002 to 2004, the number of foreign-born labor force participants
grew by about 1.2 million on net and accounted for a little less than half
of total labor force growth over the same period.
A little over two-thirds of foreign-born persons 16 years and over were
in the labor force in 2004, about the same proportion as in the previous
2 years. Over the year, the labor force participation rate for the native
born edged down from 66.1 to 65.7 percent.
Foreign-born men were more likely to be labor force participants
(81.1 percent) than their native-born counterparts (72.0 percent). In
contrast, foreign-born women were less likely to be labor force partici-
pants than native-born women--53.8 versus 60.0 percent. Over the year,
the labor force participation rates of both men and women were about
unchanged for the foreign born, while they edged down for their native-
born counterparts.
Among the major race/ethnic groups, labor force participation of
foreign-born non-Hispanic blacks edged down over the year. Among the
native born, labor force participation declined for non-Hispanic Asians,
but edged up for Hispanics or Latinos. (See tables 1 and 3.)
The labor force participation rate for foreign-born women with
children under 18 was 58.4 percent in 2004, compared with 73.0 percent
for native-born mothers. Participation rates for both groups were down
from the prior year--by 1.2 and 0.6 percentage points, respectively. About
94 percent of both foreign-born and native-born fathers with children
under 18 were in the labor force in 2004. (See table 2.)
The over-the-year decline in the unemployment rate of foreign-born
workers--from 6.6 percent in 2003 to 5.5 percent in 2004--reflected
declines in the rates for both men and women. The unemployment rate for
foreign-born men fell from 6.2 to 5.0 percent, and the rate for
foreign-born women declined from 7.1 to 6.3 percent. Among the native
born, the unemployment rate for men declined from 6.3 percent in 2003 to
5.8 percent in 2004, while the rate for women was little changed. (See
table 1.)
- 2 -
Occupation
The largest group of foreign-born workers was employed in management,
professional, and related occupations (26.5 percent) in 2004. This was
also the case for native-born workers, with 36.3 percent of them employed
in this occupational category. An additional 22.8 percent of foreign-born
workers were employed in service occupations and 18.4 percent were in sales
and office occupations, as were 15.2 and 26.7 percent, respectively, of the
native-born workers. (See table 4.)
Reflecting the downward trend in manufacturing employment as a whole,
the proportions of both foreign-born and native-born workers employed in
production, transportation, and material moving occupations declined from
2000 to 2004. In 2000, 20.4 percent of foreign-born and 13.8 percent of
native-born workers were employed in these occupations. In 2004, the pro-
portions were 17.5 percent for the foreign born and 12.1 percent for the
native born.
Earnings
In 2004, the median usual weekly earnings of foreign-born full-time
wage and salary workers ($502), were 75.6 percent of those of their
native-born counterparts ($664). The earnings of foreign-born men
($518) were 69.1 percent of those of native-born men ($749), while
foreign-born women had earnings ($473) that were 81.0 percent of those
of native-born women ($585). While earnings for both the foreign-born
and native-born groups rose over the year, the increase was relatively
smaller for the foreign born (2.7 percent) than for their native-born
counterparts (3.3 percent). The foreign-to-native-born earnings gap
is narrower at higher education levels. For example, the median usual
weekly earnings of foreign-born full time wage and salary workers with
a bachelor's degree or higher ($943) were 94.9 percent of those of their
native-born counterparts ($994) in 2004. (See table 5.)
- 3 -
Technical Note
The estimates in this release are based on annual average data from the
Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS, which is conducted by the U.S.
Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is a monthly sur-
vey of about 60,000 households that provides information on the labor force
status, demographics, and other characteristics of the nation's civilian
noninstitutional population age 16 and over. In response to the increased
demand for statistical information about the foreign born, questions on
nativity, citizenship, year of entry into the United States, and the paren-
tal nativity of respondents were added to the CPS beginning in January 1994.
Prior to 1994, the primary sources of data on the foreign born were the de-
cennial census, two CPS supplements (conducted in April 1983 and November
1989), and, to some extent, information collected by the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (formerly known as the Immigration and Naturaliza-
tion Service).
The foreign- and native-born data for 2004 are not strictly comparable
with data for 2003 and earlier years because of the introduction in January
2004 of revised population controls used in the CPS. The effect of the
revised population controls on the foreign- and native-born estimates is
unknown. However, the effect of the new controls on the monthly CPS
estimates was to decrease the December 2003 employment level by 409,000
and the unemployment level by 27,000. The updated controls had little or
no effect on unemployment rates and other ratios. For additional informa-
tion, see "Adjustments to Household Survey Population Estimates in January
2004" in the February 2004 issue of Employment and Earnings, available on
the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps04adj.pdf.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200, TDD message referral
phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling
error. When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed, there
is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies de-
pending upon the particular sample selected, and this variability is measured
by the standard error of the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance,
or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no
more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population value because of sam-
pling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of
confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error
can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of
the population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in the
sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct infor-
mation, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and informa-
tion on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and Estimates
of Error" section of Employment and Earnings.
- 4 -
Concepts and definitions
Foreign born. The foreign born are persons residing in the United States
who were not U.S. citizens at birth. That is, they were born outside the
United States or one of its outlying areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam, to
parents neither of whom was a U.S. citizen. The foreign-born population in-
cludes legally-admitted immigrants, refugees, temporary residents such as
students and temporary workers, and undocumented immigrants.
Native born. The native born are persons born in the United States or one
of its outlying areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam or who were born abroad of
at least one parent who was a U.S. citizen.
Race and ethnicity groups. In this release, the data are presented for
non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and Asians and for persons of Hispanic or La-
tino ethnicity. These four groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive.
Other race groups (including persons who selected more than one race category)
are included in the overall totals but are not shown separately because the
number of survey respondents is too small to develop statistically reliable
estimates. The presentation of the data on race and ethnicity in this re-
lease differs from that which appears in most analyses of CPS labor force
data in that persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are separated from the
race groups. Because persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity can be of any
race, they are usually included in the race groups as well as shown separately
in the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity group. The reason for the difference in
the data presentation in this release is because about half of the foreign
born are of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and they have somewhat different la-
bor force characteristics than the non-Hispanic foreign born.
Employed. Employed persons are (a) all those who, during the survey
reference week, did any work at all as paid employees, worked in their own
business, profession, or on their own farm, or who worked 15 hours or more
as unpaid workers in a family-operated enterprise; and (b) all those who
did not work but had jobs or businesses from which they were temporarily
absent due to illness, bad weather, vacation, childcare problems, labor
disputes, or personal reasons, whether or not they were paid for the time
off and whether or not they were seeking other jobs.
Unemployed. The unemployed are persons who had no employment during the
reference week, were available for work at that time, except for temporary
illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during
the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Persons who were waiting
to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not be looking
for work to be classified as unemployed.
Civilian labor force. The civilian labor force comprises all persons
classified as employed or unemployed.
Unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is the number unemployed as a
percent of the civilian labor force.
Labor force participation rate. The labor force participation rate is
the labor force as a percent of the population.
Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and other
deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually re-
ceived (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders). Earnings re-
ported on a basis other than weekly are converted to a weekly equivalent.
Median earnings. The median is the amount which divides a given earnings
distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above the median and
the other having earnings below the median.
Table 1. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations by selected characteristics,
2003-04 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2003 2004
Civilian labor force Civilian labor force
Civilian Civilian
Characteristic noninsti- noninsti-
tutional Unemployed tutional Unemployed
popula- Partici- popula- Partici-
tion Total pation Employed tion Total pation Employed
rate Unem- rate Unem-
Number ploy- Number ploy-
ment ment
rate rate
TOTAL
Total 16 years and over...... 221,168 146,510 66.2 137,736 8,774 6.0 223,357 147,401 66.0 139,252 8,149 5.5
Men............................ 106,435 78,238 73.5 73,332 4,906 6.3 107,710 78,980 73.3 74,524 4,456 5.6
Women.......................... 114,733 68,272 59.5 64,404 3,868 5.7 115,647 68,421 59.2 64,728 3,694 5.4
FOREIGN BORN
Total 16 years and over...... 31,331 21,117 67.4 19,731 1,385 6.6 31,763 21,433 67.5 20,255 1,178 5.5
Men............................ 15,669 12,634 80.6 11,850 784 6.2 15,913 12,905 81.1 12,263 642 5.0
Women.......................... 15,662 8,482 54.2 7,881 601 7.1 15,849 8,528 53.8 7,992 536 6.3
Age
16 to 24 years................. 4,135 2,456 59.4 2,203 252 10.3 4,191 2,497 59.6 2,278 219 8.8
25 to 34 years................. 7,784 5,925 76.1 5,551 375 6.3 7,821 5,988 76.6 5,670 318 5.3
35 to 44 years................. 7,450 6,026 80.9 5,673 353 5.9 7,481 6,085 81.3 5,787 298 4.9
45 to 54 years................. 5,245 4,200 80.1 3,935 264 6.3 5,342 4,305 80.6 4,096 210 4.9
55 to 64 years................. 3,195 2,016 63.1 1,903 113 5.6 3,294 2,050 62.2 1,945 105 5.1
65 years and over.............. 3,521 494 14.0 465 28 5.8 3,634 507 14.0 479 28 5.5
Race and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity (1)
White non-Hispanic or Latino... 7,128 4,267 59.9 4,048 219 5.1 7,141 4,282 60.0 4,088 194 4.5
Black non-Hispanic or Latino... 2,391 1,782 74.5 1,631 152 8.5 2,360 1,731 73.4 1,595 136 7.9
Asian non-Hispanic or Latino... 6,867 4,613 67.2 4,324 289 6.3 7,062 4,738 67.1 4,530 208 4.4
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity... 14,627 10,226 69.9 9,513 713 7.0 14,878 10,439 70.2 9,808 631 6.0
Educational attainment
Total, 25 years and over.... 27,196 18,661 68.6 17,528 1,133 6.1 27,572 18,936 68.7 17,977 959 5.1
Less than a high school
diploma..................... 8,823 5,376 60.9 4,949 427 7.9 8,796 5,351 60.8 4,974 377 7.0
High school graduates, no
college (2)................. 6,778 4,596 67.8 4,335 261 5.7 6,929 4,707 67.9 4,493 214 4.5
Some college or associate
degree...................... 4,147 2,991 72.1 2,811 180 6.0 4,259 3,104 72.9 2,944 161 5.2
Bachelor's degree and
higher (3).................. 7,447 5,698 76.5 5,433 265 4.7 7,587 5,773 76.1 5,566 207 3.6
NATIVE BORN
Total 16 years and over...... 189,837 125,393 66.1 118,005 7,389 5.9 191,594 125,968 65.7 118,997 6,971 5.5
Men............................ 90,766 65,603 72.3 61,481 4,122 6.3 91,797 66,075 72.0 62,261 3,813 5.8
Women.......................... 99,072 59,790 60.4 56,523 3,267 5.5 99,797 59,893 60.0 56,736 3,158 5.3
Age
16 to 24 years................. 31,762 19,642 61.8 17,148 2,494 12.7 32,228 19,771 61.3 17,352 2,419 12.2
25 to 34 years................. 31,237 26,418 84.6 24,832 1,585 6.0 31,118 26,219 84.3 24,753 1,466 5.6
35 to 44 years................. 36,296 30,669 84.5 29,207 1,462 4.8 35,745 30,072 84.1 28,793 1,280 4.3
45 to 54 years................. 35,277 29,071 82.4 27,979 1,092 3.8 35,904 29,452 82.0 28,374 1,079 3.7
55 to 64 years................. 24,533 15,296 62.3 14,696 600 3.9 25,625 15,963 62.3 15,386 577 3.6
65 years and over.............. 30,733 4,298 14.0 4,143 155 3.6 30,975 4,490 14.5 4,339 151 3.4
Race and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity (1)
White non-Hispanic or Latino... 148,569 98,833 66.5 94,057 4,776 4.8 149,414 98,920 66.2 94,480 4,440 4.5
Black non-Hispanic or Latino... 22,484 14,215 63.2 12,644 1,571 11.1 22,876 14,355 62.8 12,817 1,537 10.7
Asian non-Hispanic or Latino... 2,228 1,414 63.5 1,342 73 5.1 2,358 1,455 61.7 1,391 64 4.4
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity... 12,924 8,587 66.4 7,859 727 8.5 13,231 8,833 66.8 8,122 711 8.0
Educational attainment
Total, 25 years and over.... 158,075 105,751 66.9 100,857 4,894 4.6 159,366 106,197 66.6 101,645 4,552 4.3
Less than a high school
diploma..................... 19,333 7,271 37.6 6,588 682 9.4 18,873 7,118 37.7 6,434 684 9.6
High school graduates, no
college (2)................. 52,701 33,330 63.2 31,522 1,808 5.4 52,930 33,128 62.6 31,451 1,676 5.1
Some college or associate
degree...................... 42,594 31,058 72.9 29,609 1,449 4.7 43,297 31,334 72.4 30,033 1,301 4.2
Bachelor's degree and
higher (3).................. 43,447 34,093 78.5 33,138 955 2.8 44,266 34,617 78.2 33,727 891 2.6
1 Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
2 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
3 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are not strictly comparable
with those for 2003. See the Technical Note for further information.
Table 2. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 16 years and over by
presence and age of youngest child and sex, 2003-04 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2003 2004
Characteristic
Total Men Women Total Men Women
FOREIGN BORN
With own children under 18
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 12,520 5,985 6,534 12,740 6,060 6,680
Civilian labor force.................. 9,488 5,593 3,895 9,614 5,710 3,904
Participation rate................ 75.8 93.4 59.6 75.5 94.2 58.4
Employed............................ 8,896 5,284 3,611 9,125 5,474 3,652
Employment-population ratio....... 71.1 88.3 55.3 71.6 90.3 54.7
Unemployed.......................... 592 309 283 489 236 253
Unemployment rate................. 6.2 5.5 7.3 5.1 4.1 6.5
With own children 6 to 17, none younger
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 6,253 2,893 3,360 6,268 2,907 3,361
Civilian labor force.................. 4,975 2,663 2,313 5,024 2,715 2,309
Participation rate................ 79.6 92.0 68.8 80.1 93.4 68.7
Employed............................ 4,688 2,516 2,172 4,785 2,605 2,180
Employment-population ratio....... 75.0 87.0 64.7 76.3 89.6 64.9
Unemployed.......................... 287 147 140 238 110 129
Unemployment rate................. 5.8 5.5 6.1 4.7 4.0 5.6
With own children under 6
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 6,267 3,092 3,174 6,472 3,153 3,319
Civilian labor force.................. 4,513 2,930 1,582 4,590 2,995 1,595
Participation rate................ 72.0 94.8 49.8 70.9 95.0 48.1
Employed............................ 4,208 2,769 1,439 4,340 2,869 1,471
Employment-population ratio....... 67.1 89.5 45.3 67.1 91.0 44.3
Unemployed.......................... 305 162 143 250 126 124
Unemployment rate................. 6.8 5.5 9.0 5.5 4.2 7.8
With own children under 3
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 3,740 1,878 1,862 3,789 1,865 1,924
Civilian labor force.................. 2,618 1,786 832 2,596 1,778 819
Participation rate................ 70.0 95.1 44.7 68.5 95.3 42.6
Employed............................ 2,450 1,693 757 2,457 1,705 751
Employment-population ratio....... 65.5 90.2 40.6 64.8 91.4 39.1
Unemployed.......................... 168 93 75 139 72 67
Unemployment rate................. 6.4 5.2 9.0 5.4 4.1 8.2
With no own children under 18
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 18,811 9,684 9,127 19,023 9,853 9,170
Civilian labor force.................. 11,629 7,041 4,588 11,819 7,195 4,624
Participation rate................ 61.8 72.7 50.3 62.1 73.0 50.4
Employed............................ 10,836 6,566 4,270 11,130 6,789 4,340
Employment-population ratio....... 57.6 67.8 46.8 58.5 68.9 47.3
Unemployed.......................... 793 475 318 690 406 283
Unemployment rate................. 6.8 6.8 6.9 5.8 5.6 6.1
NATIVE BORN
With own children under 18
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 53,492 23,593 29,899 53,136 23,424 29,712
Civilian labor force.................. 44,271 22,261 22,010 43,757 22,053 21,703
Participation rate................ 82.8 94.4 73.6 82.3 94.1 73.0
Employed............................ 42,196 21,421 20,774 41,882 21,342 20,540
Employment-population ratio....... 78.9 90.8 69.5 78.8 91.1 69.1
Unemployed.......................... 2,075 839 1,236 1,875 711 1,163
Unemployment rate................. 4.7 3.8 5.6 4.3 3.2 5.4
With own children 6 to 17, none younger
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 30,167 13,334 16,833 30,101 13,279 16,821
Civilian labor force.................. 25,839 12,444 13,394 25,642 12,358 13,284
Participation rate................ 85.7 93.3 79.6 85.2 93.1 79.0
Employed............................ 24,784 12,004 12,780 24,700 11,993 12,707
Employment-population ratio....... 82.2 90.0 75.9 82.1 90.3 75.5
Unemployed.......................... 1,054 440 614 942 365 577
Unemployment rate................. 4.1 3.5 4.6 3.7 3.0 4.3
With own children under 6
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 23,324 10,259 13,065 23,036 10,145 12,891
Civilian labor force.................. 18,432 9,816 8,616 18,115 9,696 8,419
Participation rate................ 79.0 95.7 65.9 78.6 95.6 65.3
Employed............................ 17,411 9,417 7,994 17,182 9,349 7,833
Employment-population ratio....... 74.6 91.8 61.2 74.6 92.2 60.8
Unemployed.......................... 1,021 399 621 933 347 586
Unemployment rate................. 5.5 4.1 7.2 5.1 3.6 7.0
With own children under 3
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 13,625 6,037 7,588 13,363 5,941 7,422
Civilian labor force.................. 10,518 5,787 4,731 10,252 5,693 4,559
Participation rate................ 77.2 95.9 62.3 76.7 95.8 61.4
Employed............................ 9,900 5,541 4,359 9,696 5,483 4,212
Employment-population ratio....... 72.7 91.8 57.4 72.6 92.3 56.8
Unemployed.......................... 617 245 372 556 210 346
Unemployment rate................. 5.9 4.2 7.9 5.4 3.7 7.6
With no own children under 18
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 136,346 67,173 69,173 138,458 68,373 70,085
Civilian labor force.................. 81,123 43,343 37,780 82,212 44,021 38,190
Participation rate................ 59.5 64.5 54.6 59.4 64.4 54.5
Employed............................ 75,809 40,060 35,749 77,115 40,919 36,196
Employment-population ratio....... 55.6 59.6 51.7 55.7 59.8 51.6
Unemployed.......................... 5,314 3,283 2,031 5,096 3,102 1,994
Unemployment rate................. 6.6 7.6 5.4 6.2 7.0 5.2
NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2004, estimated levels
for 2004 are not strictly comparable with those for 2003. See the Technical Note for further
information.
Table 3. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 25 years and over by educational attainment,
race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2003-04 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2003 2004
Characteristic Less than High Some Less than High Some
a high school college Bachelor's a high school college Bachelor's
school graduates, or degree and school graduates, or degree and
diploma no college associate higher (2) diploma no college associate higher (2)
(1) degree (1) degree
FOREIGN BORN
White non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 910 1,857 1,238 2,506 899 1,833 1,281 2,474
Civilian labor force.................. 291 1,029 772 1,825 298 981 811 1,814
Participation rate................ 32.0 55.4 62.4 72.8 33.2 53.5 63.3 73.3
Employed............................ 274 978 730 1,749 279 948 768 1,747
Employment-population ratio....... 30.1 52.6 59.0 69.8 31.1 51.7 60.0 70.6
Unemployed.......................... 17 51 42 76 19 33 43 67
Unemployment rate................. 6.0 5.0 5.5 4.2 6.4 3.4 5.3 3.7
Black non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 366 629 477 564 371 650 451 569
Civilian labor force.................. 223 494 393 490 220 495 364 487
Participation rate................ 60.9 78.5 82.2 86.9 59.4 76.1 80.7 85.6
Employed............................ 195 458 361 458 198 463 332 463
Employment-population ratio....... 53.3 72.9 75.7 81.2 53.4 71.1 73.7 81.3
Unemployed.......................... 28 35 31 32 22 32 31 25
Unemployment rate................. 12.5 7.1 7.9 6.6 10.1 6.5 8.6 5.0
Asian non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 867 1,304 932 3,033 874 1,291 986 3,163
Civilian labor force.................. 405 863 675 2,321 390 862 727 2,394
Participation rate................ 46.7 66.2 72.4 76.5 44.6 66.8 73.8 75.7
Employed............................ 366 811 628 2,211 366 819 688 2,321
Employment-population ratio....... 42.2 62.2 67.3 72.9 41.9 63.4 69.8 73.4
Unemployed.......................... 39 51 47 110 24 43 40 72
Unemployment rate................. 9.7 6.0 7.0 4.7 6.1 5.0 5.4 3.0
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 6,645 2,916 1,428 1,247 6,618 3,088 1,474 1,280
Civilian labor force.................. 4,436 2,160 1,093 983 4,422 2,315 1,147 997
Participation rate................ 66.8 74.1 76.6 78.9 66.8 75.0 77.9 77.9
Employed............................ 4,095 2,040 1,036 940 4,111 2,209 1,102 957
Employment-population ratio....... 61.6 70.0 72.6 75.4 62.1 71.5 74.8 74.8
Unemployed.......................... 341 120 58 44 311 105 46 40
Unemployment rate................. 7.7 5.6 5.3 4.4 7.0 4.6 4.0 4.0
NATIVE BORN
White non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 13,010 42,044 33,809 37,843 12,622 42,042 34,302 38,440
Civilian labor force.................. 4,713 26,005 24,276 29,493 4,546 25,719 24,536 29,797
Participation rate................ 36.2 61.9 71.8 77.9 36.0 61.2 71.5 77.5
Employed............................ 4,348 24,811 23,312 28,708 4,193 24,615 23,681 29,079
Employment-population ratio....... 33.4 59.0 69.0 75.9 33.2 58.5 69.0 75.6
Unemployed.......................... 365 1,194 965 786 353 1,103 854 718
Unemployment rate................. 7.7 4.6 4.0 2.7 7.8 4.3 3.5 2.4
Black non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 3,448 6,410 5,001 3,022 3,391 6,600 5,068 3,097
Civilian labor force.................. 1,267 4,292 3,820 2,458 1,228 4,400 3,768 2,554
Participation rate................ 36.8 67.0 76.4 81.3 36.2 66.7 74.4 82.5
Employed............................ 1,088 3,878 3,521 2,364 1,025 4,004 3,483 2,451
Employment-population ratio....... 31.6 60.5 70.4 78.2 30.2 60.7 68.7 79.1
Unemployed.......................... 179 414 298 95 203 396 285 104
Unemployment rate................. 14.1 9.6 7.8 3.9 16.5 9.0 7.6 4.1
Asian non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 132 294 358 755 142 320 381 807
Civilian labor force.................. 50 174 251 611 55 174 259 640
Participation rate................ 38.0 59.0 70.2 81.0 38.4 54.6 68.0 79.2
Employed............................ 46 167 243 593 52 170 252 624
Employment-population ratio....... 34.7 56.8 68.0 78.6 36.8 53.2 65.9 77.3
Unemployed.......................... 4 7 8 18 2 4 8 16
Unemployment rate................. 8.8 3.8 3.1 3.0 4.2 2.4 3.0 2.5
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Civilian noninstitutional population.... 2,324 3,078 2,487 1,350 2,297 3,084 2,590 1,406
Civilian labor force.................. 1,088 2,270 2,008 1,142 1,131 2,251 2,075 1,207
Participation rate................ 46.8 73.7 80.7 84.6 49.2 73.0 80.1 85.9
Employed............................ 977 2,129 1,890 1,099 1,024 2,120 1,966 1,170
Employment-population ratio....... 42.1 69.1 76.0 81.4 44.6 68.8 75.9 83.3
Unemployed.......................... 110 141 118 43 106 131 109 37
Unemployment rate................. 10.2 6.2 5.9 3.8 9.4 5.8 5.2 3.1
1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
NOTE: Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Due to the
introduction of revised population controls in January 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are not strictly comparable with
those for 2003. See the Technical Note for further information.
Table 4. Employed foreign-born and native-born persons 16 years and over by occupation and sex,
2004 annual averages
(Percent distribution)
Foreign born Native born
Occupation
Total Men Women Total Men Women
Total employed (thousands)......................... 20,255 12,263 7,992 118,997 62,261 56,736
Percent............................................ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Management, professional, and related occupations...... 26.5 24.4 29.8 36.3 34.0 38.8
Management, business, and financial operations
occupations......................................... 9.8 9.8 9.8 15.3 16.9 13.6
Management occupations............................. 7.1 7.9 5.9 11.0 13.2 8.6
Business and financial operations occupations...... 2.7 1.9 3.9 4.3 3.7 5.0
Professional and related occupations................. 16.7 14.6 20.0 20.9 17.1 25.2
Computer and mathematical occupations.............. 3.0 3.8 1.9 2.1 2.9 1.2
Architecture and engineering occupations........... 2.1 2.9 .8 2.0 3.3 .6
Life, physical, and social science occupations..... 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.0 .9
Community and social services occupations.......... .9 .7 1.4 1.7 1.2 2.1
Legal occupations.................................. .5 .3 .8 1.2 1.2 1.2
Education, training, and library occupations....... 3.2 2.0 5.1 6.1 3.0 9.5
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media
occupations....................................... 1.5 1.3 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0
Healthcare practitioner and technical
occupations....................................... 4.4 2.6 7.1 4.9 2.4 7.7
Service occupations.................................... 22.8 18.3 29.8 15.2 12.2 18.5
Healthcare support occupations....................... 2.3 .5 5.1 2.1 .4 3.9
Protective service occupations....................... 1.0 1.3 .4 2.2 3.3 1.0
Food preparation and serving related occupations..... 7.5 7.5 7.5 4.8 3.7 6.1
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
occupations......................................... 8.4 7.5 9.8 2.9 3.5 2.3
Personal care and service occupations................ 3.6 1.4 6.9 3.2 1.3 5.2
Sales and office occupations........................... 18.4 13.3 26.3 26.7 18.0 36.2
Sales and related occupations........................ 9.2 8.1 11.0 11.9 11.4 12.3
Office and administrative support occupations........ 9.2 5.2 15.4 14.8 6.5 23.9
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
occupations......................................... 14.7 23.3 1.6 9.7 17.8 .9
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations........... 1.8 2.4 .9 .5 .8 .2
Construction and extraction occupations.............. 9.7 15.8 .3 5.5 10.2 .3
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.... 3.2 5.1 .4 3.7 6.8 .4
Production, transportation, and material moving
occupations......................................... 17.5 20.7 12.5 12.1 18.1 5.5
Production occupations............................... 10.6 11.3 9.6 6.1 8.4 3.7
Transportation and material moving occupations....... 6.8 9.4 2.8 6.0 9.8 1.8
NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are
not strictly comparable with those for 2003. See the Technical Note for further information.
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers for the foreign born and native born by selected
characteristics, 2003-04 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2003 2004
Foreign born Native born Earnings Foreign born Native born Earnings
of of
Characteristic foreign foreign
born as born as
Median Median percent Median Median percent
Number weekly Number weekly of Number weekly Number weekly of
earnings earnings native earnings earnings native
born (1) born (1)
Total, 16 years and over......... 15,227 $489 85,076 $643 76.0 15,580 $502 85,644 $664 75.6
Men................................ 9,666 503 46,560 732 68.7 9,902 518 47,099 749 69.1
Women.............................. 5,560 459 38,516 567 80.8 5,678 473 38,545 585 81.0
Age
16 to 24 years..................... 1,512 345 9,278 393 87.7 1,551 341 9,325 397 85.8
25 to 34 years..................... 4,642 466 20,134 615 75.8 4,631 491 20,126 624 78.7
35 to 44 years..................... 4,493 522 22,602 716 72.8 4,538 540 22,323 741 72.9
45 to 54 years..................... 2,984 567 21,461 742 76.4 3,187 565 21,799 764 73.9
55 to 64 years..................... 1,355 600 10,084 725 82.8 1,409 607 10,523 740 82.0
65 years and over.................. 241 500 1,516 518 96.6 264 552 1,548 562 98.2
Race and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity (2)
White non-Hispanic or Latino ...... 2,863 681 66,371 683 99.7 2,852 731 66,563 702 104.1
Black non-Hispanic or Latino ...... 1,266 515 10,258 515 99.8 1,268 533 10,374 529 100.8
Asian non-Hispanic or Latino ...... 3,250 689 991 732 94.0 3,383 699 1,009 738 94.8
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity....... 7,690 398 5,944 523 76.1 7,899 402 6,163 539 74.5
Educational attainment
Total, 25 years and over........ 13,715 511 75,798 688 74.2 14,029 524 76,319 710 73.7
Less than a high school diploma.... 4,034 369 4,559 430 86.0 4,094 373 4,439 433 86.2
High school graduates,
no college (3).................... 3,359 467 23,724 569 82.1 3,486 478 23,655 586 81.5
Some college....................... 2,135 576 22,475 647 89.0 2,216 595 22,630 668 89.0
Bachelor's degree and higher (4)... 4,186 909 25,040 971 93.6 4,234 943 25,595 994 94.9
1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded
medians displayed in this table.
2 Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
3 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
4 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are not strictly
comparable with those for 2003. See the Technical Note for further information.
Table 6. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 16 years and over by census regions and divisions,
2003-04 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2003 2004
Civilian labor force Civilian labor force
Census regions Civilian Civilian
and divisions noninsti- noninsti-
tutional Unemployed tutional Unemployed
popula- Partici- popula- Partici-
tion Total pation Employed Unem- tion Total pation Employed Unem-
rate Number ploy- rate Number ploy-
ment ment
rate rate
FOREIGN BORN
Northeast......... 6,936 4,577 66.0 4,275 301 6.6 7,030 4,666 66.4 4,409 258 5.5
New England..... 1,334 920 68.9 856 63 6.9 1,371 933 68.0 884 49 5.2
Middle
Atlantic....... 5,601 3,657 65.3 3,419 238 6.5 5,659 3,734 66.0 3,525 209 5.6
South............. 9,158 6,305 68.8 5,932 373 5.9 9,402 6,485 69.0 6,177 308 4.8
South
Atlantic....... 5,442 3,753 69.0 3,545 208 5.5 5,682 3,930 69.2 3,741 190 4.8
East South
Central........ 389 275 70.7 262 12 4.5 433 313 72.3 307 6 2.0
West South
Central........ 3,327 2,277 68.5 2,125 153 6.7 3,286 2,241 68.2 2,129 113 5.0
Midwest........... 3,504 2,404 68.6 2,235 169 7.0 3,460 2,364 68.3 2,226 138 5.8
East North
Central........ 2,683 1,814 67.6 1,688 126 6.9 2,636 1,759 66.7 1,658 101 5.7
West North
Central........ 820 589 71.8 546 43 7.3 824 605 73.4 568 37 6.2
West.............. 11,733 7,831 66.7 7,290 542 6.9 11,870 7,918 66.7 7,444 474 6.0
Mountain........ 1,835 1,287 70.2 1,210 77 6.0 1,897 1,308 69.0 1,244 64 4.9
Pacific......... 9,899 6,544 66.1 6,079 465 7.1 9,974 6,610 66.3 6,200 410 6.2
NATIVE BORN
Northeast......... 35,685 23,066 64.6 21,754 1,312 5.7 35,520 22,956 64.6 21,738 1,218 5.3
New England..... 9,809 6,670 68.0 6,321 348 5.2 9,800 6,603 67.4 6,288 315 4.8
Middle
Atlantic....... 25,876 16,396 63.4 15,433 964 5.9 25,721 16,353 63.6 15,450 903 5.5
South............. 69,398 44,841 64.6 42,265 2,576 5.7 70,414 45,150 64.1 42,747 2,403 5.3
South
Atlantic....... 35,584 23,041 64.8 21,850 1,191 5.2 36,308 23,330 64.3 22,206 1,125 4.8
East South
Central........ 12,890 8,077 62.7 7,591 487 6.0 12,914 8,032 62.2 7,581 451 5.6
West South
Central........ 20,924 13,723 65.6 12,824 899 6.5 21,192 13,787 65.1 12,960 827 6.0
Midwest........... 46,720 32,088 68.7 30,221 1,867 5.8 46,829 32,028 68.4 30,196 1,831 5.7
East North
Central........ 32,487 21,877 67.3 20,504 1,374 6.3 32,559 21,837 67.1 20,502 1,335 6.1
West North
Central........ 14,233 10,210 71.7 9,717 493 4.8 14,270 10,190 71.4 9,695 496 4.9
West.............. 38,034 25,398 66.8 23,765 1,634 6.4 38,830 25,835 66.5 24,316 1,519 5.9
Mountain........ 12,477 8,471 67.9 7,996 475 5.6 12,838 8,724 68.0 8,277 448 5.1
Pacific......... 25,557 16,928 66.2 15,769 1,159 6.8 25,992 17,111 65.8 16,040 1,071 6.3
NOTE: The states (plus the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are:
New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont);
Middle Atlantic (New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania);
South Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia);
East South Central (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee);
West South Central Division (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas);
East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin);
West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota);
Mountain (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming);
Pacific (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington).
Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are not strictly comparable with those
for 2003. See the Technical Note for further information.