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1

Technical information:

(202) 691-6378
http://www.bls.gov/cps/

Media contact:

691-5902

USDL 06-640
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Friday, April 14, 2006

FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS: LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS IN 2005
In 2005, foreign-born workers made up about 15 percent of the U.S. civilian labor force age 16 and
over, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The unemployment
rate for the foreign born fell to 4.6 percent in 2005, down from 5.5 percent in the prior year. Over the year,
the jobless rate of the native born declined from 5.5 to 5.2 percent.
This news release compares the labor force characteristics of the foreign born with those of their nativeborn 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 outside the country or one of its outlying areas to parents who were
not U.S. citizens. The foreign born include legally-admitted immigrants, refugees, temporary residents such
as students and temporary workers, and undocumented immigrants. The survey data, however, do not
separately identify the numbers of persons in these categories. For further information about the survey, see
the Technical Note.
Demographic Characteristics
The demographic characteristics of the foreign-born labor force differ significantly in many respects from
those of the native born. For example, men made up a larger proportion of the foreign-born labor force
(60 percent) in 2005 than they did of the native-born labor force (52 percent). Also, the proportion of the
foreign-born labor force made up of 25- to 54-year olds is higher than for their native-born counterparts
(76 and 68 percent, respectively). (See table 1.)
About 49 percent of the foreign-born labor force was Hispanic, and 22 percent was Asian, compared
with about 7 and 1 percent, respectively, of the native-born labor force. One out of 5 of the foreign-born
labor force was white, compared with nearly 4 out of 5 of the native-born labor force. (Data in this release
are presented for non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and Asians and for persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.)
(See table 1.)
In terms of educational attainment, 28 percent of the foreign-born labor force 25 years old and over
had not completed high school in 2005, compared with about 7 percent of the native-born labor force.
About equal proportions of both the foreign and native born had a bachelor’s degree and higher (31 and
33 percent, respectively). (See table 1.)
On a regional basis, the foreign-born share of the labor force ranged from about a quarter in the West
to 7 percent in the Midwest. (See table 6.)

2

Labor Force and Unemployment
In 2005, foreign-born workers made up about 15 percent of the U.S. civilian labor force, little different
from a year earlier. About 22 million, or 67.7 percent, of the foreign born were in the labor force in 2005,
about the same proportion as in 2004. The labor force participation rate of the native born was 65.8 percent in 2005, about unchanged from the prior year. (See table 1.)
Over the year, the number of foreign-born labor force participants edged up by 609,000, about a third
of the total labor force increase in 2005. Since 2000, the foreign born have accounted for 46 percent of the
net gain in the total labor force.
Foreign-born men were more likely to be labor force participants (81.3 percent) than their native-born
counterparts (71.9 percent). In contrast, 54.1 percent of foreign-born women were labor force participants,
compared with 60.1 percent of native-born women.
The labor force participation rate of foreign-born women with children under 18 was 58.5 percent in
2005, compared with 73.2 percent for native-born mothers. Among women with children under age 3, the
participation rate for the foreign born was 44.2 percent, while that for the native born was 62.0 percent. In
2005, participation among both groups of mothers of young children edged up from the prior year. About
96 percent of both foreign- and native-born fathers with children under 3 were in the labor force in 2005.
(See table 2.)
The unemployment rate of the foreign born declined from 5.5 percent in 2004 to 4.6 percent in 2005.
Over the year, the unemployment rate for foreign-born men declined from 5.0 to 4.1 percent, and the rate
for foreign-born women declined from 6.3 to 5.4 percent. Among the native born, the unemployment rate
declined from 5.5 to 5.2 percent. (See table 1.) In 2005, the unemployment rate of the foreign born was
lower than that of the native born for the first time since the data series began in 1996.
Occupation
Management, professional, and related occupations made up the largest share of employment for both
foreign-born and native-born workers in 2005, 26 and 36 percent, respectively. Foreign-born workers were
more likely than their native-born counterparts to be employed in several service occupations, including food
preparation and serving related occupations, and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations.
Foreign-born workers also were more likely than the native born to be employed in farming, fishing, and
forestry; construction and extraction; and production occupations. The foreign born were less likely than the
native born to work in sales and office occupations. (See table 4.)
Earnings
In 2005, the median usual weekly earnings of foreign-born full-time wage and salary workers were $511,
compared with $677 for the native born. Among men, median earnings were $523 per week for the foreign
born, compared with $760 for the native born; the median for foreign-born women was $487, compared
with $596 for the native born. As with the native born, the earnings of foreign-born workers increased with
education. The foreign born 25 years of age and over with less than a high school education earned $385
per week in 2005, while those with bachelor’s degrees and higher earned 2-1/2 times as much—$960 a
week. (See table 5.)

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 survey 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 parental 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 decennial
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 Naturalization Service).
The foreign- and native-born data for 2005 are not strictly
comparable with data for 2004 and earlier years because of the
introduction in January 2005 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 2004 employment
level by 45,000 and the unemployment level by 4,000. The
updated controls had little or no effect on unemployment
rates and other ratios. For additional information, see
“Adjustments to Household Survey Population Estimates in
January 2005” available on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/
cps/cps05adj.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
depending 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
sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90percent 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 information
and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS
and information on estimating standard errors, see the
“Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error” section of
Employment and Earnings.
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 includes legallyadmitted immigrants, refugees, temporary residents such
as students and temporary workers, and undocumented
immigrants. The survey data, however, do not separately
identify the number of persons in these categories.
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 Latino 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 release 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 labor 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 received (at the main job in the
case of multiple jobholders). Earnings reported 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,
2004-05 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2004

2005

Civilian labor force
Characteristic

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Civilian labor force
Unemployed

Total

ParticipaEmployed
tion rate

Number

Unemployment
rate

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Unemployed
Total

ParticipaEmployed
tion rate

Number

Unemployment
rate

TOTAL
Total 16 years and over .................... 223,357
Men ..................................................... 107,710
Women ............................................... 115,647

147,401
78,980
68,421

66.0
73.3
59.2

139,252
74,524
64,728

8,149
4,456
3,694

5.5
5.6
5.4

226,082
109,151
116,931

149,320
80,033
69,288

66.0
73.3
59.3

141,730
75,973
65,757

7,591
4,059
3,531

5.1
5.1
5.1

FOREIGN BORN
Total 16 years and over ....................
Men .....................................................
Women ...............................................

31,763
15,913
15,849

21,433
12,905
8,528

67.5
81.1
53.8

20,255
12,263
7,992

1,178
642
536

5.5
5.0
6.3

32,558
16,321
16,236

22,042
13,263
8,779

67.7
81.3
54.1

21,022
12,720
8,302

1,020
544
477

4.6
4.1
5.4

Age
16 to 24 years .....................................
25 to 34 years .....................................
35 to 44 years .....................................
45 to 54 years .....................................
55 to 64 years .....................................
65 years and over ...............................

4,191
7,821
7,481
5,342
3,294
3,634

2,497
5,988
6,085
4,305
2,050
507

59.6
76.6
81.3
80.6
62.2
14.0

2,278
5,670
5,787
4,096
1,945
479

219
318
298
210
105
28

8.8
5.3
4.9
4.9
5.1
5.5

4,168
7,902
7,620
5,578
3,499
3,791

2,469
6,094
6,162
4,473
2,278
566

59.2
77.1
80.9
80.2
65.1
14.9

2,277
5,824
5,930
4,285
2,163
542

192
270
232
188
115
24

7.8
4.4
3.8
4.2
5.1
4.2

Race and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity 1
White non-Hispanic or Latino ............
Black non-Hispanic or Latino .............
Asian non-Hispanic or Latino .............
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .................

7,141
2,360
7,062
14,878

4,282
1,731
4,738
10,439

60.0
73.4
67.1
70.2

4,088
1,595
4,530
9,808

194
136
208
631

4.5
7.9
4.4
6.0

7,239
2,360
7,289
15,360

4,351
1,746
4,922
10,794

60.1
74.0
67.5
70.3

4,187
1,631
4,728
10,252

165
115
194
541

3.8
6.6
3.9
5.0

Educational attainment
Total, 25 years and over ..................
Less than a high school diploma ........
High school graduates, no college 2 ...
Some college or associate degree .....
Bachelor’s degree and higher 3 ..........

27,572
8,796
6,929
4,259
7,587

18,936
5,351
4,707
3,104
5,773

68.7
60.8
67.9
72.9
76.1

17,977
4,974
4,493
2,944
5,566

959
377
214
161
207

5.1
7.0
4.5
5.2
3.6

28,389
9,053
7,106
4,354
7,876

19,573
5,545
4,804
3,181
6,043

68.9
61.2
67.6
73.1
76.7

18,745
5,227
4,599
3,064
5,856

828
318
205
118
188

4.2
5.7
4.3
3.7
3.1

Total 16 years and over .................... 191,594
Men .....................................................
91,797
Women ...............................................
99,797

125,968
66,075
59,893

65.7
72.0
60.0

118,997
62,261
56,736

6,971
3,813
3,158

5.5
5.8
5.3

193,525
92,830
100,695

127,278
66,769
60,509

65.8
71.9
60.1

120,708
63,254
57,454

6,570
3,516
3,055

5.2
5.3
5.0

32,228
31,118
35,745
35,904
25,625
30,975

19,771
26,219
30,072
29,452
15,963
4,490

61.3
84.3
84.1
82.0
62.3
14.5

17,352
24,753
28,793
28,374
15,386
4,339

2,419
1,466
1,280
1,079
577
151

12.2
5.6
4.3
3.7
3.6
3.4

32,505
31,162
35,385
36,529
26,666
31,278

19,821
26,247
29,868
29,930
16,701
4,712

61.0
84.2
84.4
81.9
62.6
15.1

17,493
24,856
28,699
28,922
16,186
4,552

2,328
1,391
1,168
1,008
515
160

11.7
5.3
3.9
3.4
3.1
3.4

Race and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity 1
White non-Hispanic or Latino ............ 149,414
Black non-Hispanic or Latino .............
22,876
Asian non-Hispanic or Latino .............
2,358
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .................
13,231

98,920
14,355
1,455
8,833

66.2
62.8
61.7
66.8

94,480
12,817
1,391
8,122

4,440
1,537
64
711

4.5
10.7
4.4
8.0

150,155
23,283
2,444
13,773

99,539
14,694
1,496
9,030

66.3
63.1
61.2
65.6

95,430
13,155
1,434
8,380

4,109
1,538
62
650

4.1
10.5
4.2
7.2

Educational attainment
Total, 25 years and over .................. 159,366
Less than a high school diploma ........
18,873
52,930
High school graduates, no college 2 ...
Some college or associate degree .....
43,297
3
44,266
Bachelor’s degree and higher ..........

106,197
7,118
33,128
31,334
34,617

66.6
37.7
62.6
72.4
78.2

101,645
6,434
31,451
30,033
33,727

4,552
684
1,676
1,301
891

4.3
9.6
5.1
4.2
2.6

161,019
18,818
53,302
43,915
44,984

107,457
7,135
33,392
31,793
35,137

66.7
37.9
62.6
72.4
78.1

103,215
6,485
31,799
30,561
34,369

4,242
649
1,593
1,232
768

3.9
9.1
4.8
3.9
2.2

NATIVE BORN

Age
16 to 24 years .....................................
25 to 34 years .....................................
35 to 44 years .....................................
45 to 54 years .....................................
55 to 64 years .....................................
65 years and over ...............................

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 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those for 2004. 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, 2004-05 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2004

2005

Characteristic
Total

Men

Women

Total

Men

Women

With own children under 18
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

12,740
9,614
75.5
9,125
71.6
489
5.1

6,060
5,710
94.2
5,474
90.3
236
4.1

6,680
3,904
58.4
3,652
54.7
253
6.5

12,781
9,653
75.5
9,247
72.3
406
4.2

6,084
5,737
94.3
5,547
91.2
190
3.3

6,697
3,916
58.5
3,700
55.2
216
5.5

With own children 6 to 17, none younger
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

6,268
5,024
80.1
4,785
76.3
238
4.7

2,907
2,715
93.4
2,605
89.6
110
4.0

3,361
2,309
68.7
2,180
64.9
129
5.6

6,353
5,053
79.5
4,852
76.4
201
4.0

2,950
2,750
93.2
2,658
90.1
93
3.4

3,403
2,303
67.7
2,194
64.5
108
4.7

With own children under 6
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

6,472
4,590
70.9
4,340
67.1
250
5.5

3,153
2,995
95.0
2,869
91.0
126
4.2

3,319
1,595
48.1
1,471
44.3
124
7.8

6,428
4,600
71.6
4,395
68.4
206
4.5

3,134
2,987
95.3
2,889
92.2
98
3.3

3,294
1,613
49.0
1,505
45.7
108
6.7

With own children under 3
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

3,789
2,596
68.5
2,457
64.8
139
5.4

1,865
1,778
95.3
1,705
91.4
72
4.1

1,924
819
42.6
751
39.1
67
8.2

3,732
2,595
69.5
2,489
66.7
106
4.1

1,841
1,760
95.6
1,711
93.0
49
2.8

1,891
835
44.2
778
41.1
57
6.8

With no own children under 18
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

19,023
11,819
62.1
11,130
58.5
690
5.8

9,853
7,195
73.0
6,789
68.9
406
5.6

9,170
4,624
50.4
4,340
47.3
283
6.1

19,777
12,389
62.6
11,775
59.5
614
5.0

10,237
7,526
73.5
7,173
70.1
354
4.7

9,539
4,863
51.0
4,603
48.2
260
5.4

With own children under 18
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

53,136
43,757
82.3
41,882
78.8
1,875
4.3

23,424
22,053
94.1
21,342
91.1
711
3.2

29,712
21,703
73.0
20,540
69.1
1,163
5.4

52,845
43,521
82.4
41,727
79.0
1,794
4.1

23,226
21,852
94.1
21,202
91.3
650
3.0

29,619
21,669
73.2
20,524
69.3
1,145
5.3

With own children 6 to 17, none younger
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

30,101
25,642
85.2
24,700
82.1
942
3.7

13,279
12,358
93.1
11,993
90.3
365
3.0

16,821
13,284
79.0
12,707
75.5
577
4.3

30,095
25,526
84.8
24,600
81.7
926
3.6

13,252
12,329
93.0
11,977
90.4
351
2.9

16,843
13,197
78.4
12,623
74.9
574
4.4

FOREIGN BORN

NATIVE BORN

See footnotes at end of table.

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, 2004-05 annual averages—Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
2004

2005

Characteristic
Total

Men

Women

Total

Men

Women

With own children under 6
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

23,036
18,115
78.6
17,182
74.6
933
5.1

10,145
9,696
95.6
9,349
92.2
347
3.6

12,891
8,419
65.3
7,833
60.8
586
7.0

22,749
17,995
79.1
17,127
75.3
869
4.8

9,974
9,524
95.5
9,225
92.5
298
3.1

12,776
8,472
66.3
7,901
61.8
570
6.7

With own children under 3
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

13,363
10,252
76.7
9,696
72.6
556
5.4

5,941
5,693
95.8
5,483
92.3
210
3.7

7,422
4,559
61.4
4,212
56.8
346
7.6

13,384
10,285
76.8
9,769
73.0
516
5.0

5,910
5,650
95.6
5,470
92.6
180
3.2

7,474
4,635
62.0
4,299
57.5
336
7.3

With no own children under 18
Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 138,458
Civilian labor force ..............................................
82,212
Participation rate .............................................
59.4
Employed ..........................................................
77,115
Employment-population ratio ..........................
55.7
Unemployed .....................................................
5,096
Unemployment rate ........................................
6.2

68,373
44,021
64.4
40,919
59.8
3,102
7.0

70,085
38,190
54.5
36,196
51.6
1,994
5.2

140,680
83,757
59.5
78,981
56.1
4,776
5.7

69,605
44,917
64.5
42,051
60.4
2,866
6.4

71,076
38,840
54.6
36,930
52.0
1,910
4.9

NATIVE BORN—Continued

NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly
comparable with those for 2004. 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, 2004-05 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2004
Characteristic

Less than
a high
school
diploma

2005

High school
graduates,
no college 1

Some
college or
associate
degree

Bachelor’s
degree and
higher 2

Less than
a high
school
diploma

High school
graduates,
no college 1

Some
college or
associate
degree

Bachelor’s
degree and
higher 2

FOREIGN BORN
White non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

899
298
33.2
279
31.1
19
6.4

1,833
981
53.5
948
51.7
33
3.4

1,281
811
63.3
768
60.0
43
5.3

2,474
1,814
73.3
1,747
70.6
67
3.7

928
345
37.1
325
35.0
19
5.6

1,869
988
52.8
955
51.1
33
3.4

1,258
797
63.4
766
60.9
31
3.9

2,525
1,862
73.8
1,805
71.5
57
3.1

Black non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

371
220
59.4
198
53.4
22
10.1

650
495
76.1
463
71.1
32
6.5

451
364
80.7
332
73.7
31
8.6

569
487
85.6
463
81.3
25
5.0

361
219
60.7
203
56.1
17
7.5

641
490
76.5
458
71.5
32
6.5

499
407
81.5
382
76.6
25
6.1

558
468
83.9
452
80.9
17
3.6

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

874
390
44.6
366
41.9
24
6.1

1,291
862
66.8
819
63.4
43
5.0

986
727
73.8
688
69.8
40
5.4

3,163
2,394
75.7
2,321
73.4
72
3.0

857
402
46.9
378
44.1
24
5.9

1,332
845
63.5
804
60.4
41
4.9

998
725
72.7
702
70.3
23
3.2

3,385
2,606
77.0
2,524
74.6
82
3.2

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

6,618
4,422
66.8
4,111
62.1
311
7.0

3,088
2,315
75.0
2,209
71.5
105
4.6

1,474
1,147
77.9
1,102
74.8
46
4.0

1,280
997
77.9
957
74.8
40
4.0

6,870
4,558
66.4
4,301
62.6
257
5.6

3,207
2,437
76.0
2,340
72.9
98
4.0

1,534
1,202
78.3
1,164
75.9
38
3.1

1,309
1,026
78.4
997
76.2
29
2.9

White non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

12,622
4,546
36.0
4,193
33.2
353
7.8

42,042
25,719
61.2
24,615
58.5
1,103
4.3

34,302
24,536
71.5
23,681
69.0
854
3.5

38,440
29,797
77.5
29,079
75.6
718
2.4

12,313
4,479
36.4
4,157
33.8
322
7.2

42,100
25,768
61.2
24,740
58.8
1,027
4.0

34,792
24,879
71.5
24,058
69.1
821
3.3

38,847
30,102
77.5
29,490
75.9
612
2.0

Black non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

3,391
1,228
36.2
1,025
30.2
203
16.5

6,600
4,400
66.7
4,004
60.7
396
9.0

5,068
3,768
74.4
3,483
68.7
285
7.6

3,097
2,554
82.5
2,451
79.1
104
4.1

3,464
1,277
36.9
1,077
31.1
200
15.7

6,778
4,538
66.9
4,135
61.0
403
8.9

5,039
3,780
75.0
3,518
69.8
263
6.9

3,211
2,617
81.5
2,528
78.7
89
3.4

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

142
55
38.4
52
36.8
2
4.2

320
174
54.6
170
53.2
4
2.4

381
259
68.0
252
65.9
8
3.0

807
640
79.2
624
77.3
16
2.5

158
57
36.3
56
35.3
2
2.8

303
162
53.5
158
52.0
5
2.8

380
257
67.8
249
65.5
9
3.4

859
680
79.2
664
77.3
17
2.4

NATIVE BORN

See footnotes at end of table.

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, 2004-05 annual averages—Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
2004
Characteristic

2005

Less than
a high
school
diploma

High school
graduates,
no college 1

Some
college or
associate
degree

Bachelor’s
degree and
higher 2

Less than
a high
school
diploma

High school
graduates,
no college 1

Some
college or
associate
degree

Bachelor’s
degree and
higher 2

2,297
1,131
49.2
1,024
44.6
106
9.4

3,084
2,251
73.0
2,120
68.8
131
5.8

2,590
2,075
80.1
1,966
75.9
109
5.2

1,406
1,207
85.9
1,170
83.3
37
3.1

2,455
1,163
47.4
1,066
43.4
97
8.4

3,182
2,313
72.7
2,195
69.0
118
5.1

2,735
2,164
79.1
2,064
75.5
100
4.6

1,504
1,272
84.5
1,235
82.1
36
2.9

NATIVE BORN—Continued
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Civilian noninstitutional population .......................
Civilian labor force ..............................................
Participation rate .............................................
Employed ..........................................................
Employment-population ratio ..........................
Unemployed .....................................................
Unemployment rate ........................................

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 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those for 2004. See the Technical Note for further information.

Table 4. Employed foreign-born and native-born persons 16 years and over by occupation and sex,
2005 annual averages
(Percent distribution)
Foreign born

Native born

Occupation
Total

Men

Total employed (thousands) ...........................................................
Percent ...........................................................................................

21,022
100.0

12,720
100.0

Management, professional, and related occupations .........................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations ........
Management occupations ..............................................................
Business and financial operations occupations ..............................
Professional and related occupations ...............................................
Computer and mathematical occupations ......................................
Architecture and engineering occupations .....................................
Life, physical, and social science occupations ...............................
Community and social services occupations ..................................
Legal occupations ...........................................................................
Education, training, and library occupations ...................................
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations ..........
Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations .........................

26.2
9.5
6.6
2.9
16.7
3.2
2.2
1.1
.9
.5
3.2
1.2
4.3

Service occupations ...........................................................................
Healthcare support occupations .......................................................
Protective service occupations .........................................................
Food preparation and serving related occupations ..........................
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations .........
Personal care and service occupations ............................................

Women

Total

Men

Women

8,302
100.0

120,708
100.0

63,254
100.0

57,454
100.0

23.9
9.2
7.2
2.0
14.7
3.9
3.0
1.1
.8
.3
1.9
1.1
2.6

29.6
10.0
5.7
4.3
19.6
2.1
.9
1.2
1.2
.6
5.2
1.4
7.1

36.2
15.3
11.0
4.3
21.0
2.1
1.9
1.0
1.6
1.3
6.2
2.0
4.8

33.7
16.7
13.1
3.6
16.9
3.0
3.2
1.1
1.2
1.2
3.0
2.0
2.3

39.1
13.7
8.7
5.0
25.4
1.2
.5
.9
2.1
1.3
9.7
2.1
7.6

22.8
2.6
.9
7.8
8.1
3.5

17.8
.6
1.1
7.6
7.0
1.4

30.4
5.6
.5
8.1
9.7
6.7

15.2
2.1
2.2
4.8
2.9
3.1

12.0
.4
3.3
3.5
3.5
1.3

18.7
4.0
1.1
6.1
2.3
5.2

Sales and office occupations ..............................................................
Sales and related occupations .........................................................
Office and administrative support occupations .................................

18.0
9.1
8.9

12.9
8.0
5.0

25.9
11.0
14.9

26.7
12.0
14.6

18.3
11.6
6.6

35.9
12.5
23.4

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ........
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .......................................
Construction and extraction occupations ..........................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ...........................

16.0
1.8
11.1
3.2

25.2
2.3
17.9
5.1

1.9
1.0
.6
.3

9.9
.5
5.6
3.8

18.1
.7
10.4
6.9

1.0
.2
.4
.3

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ............
Production occupations ....................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations .............................

17.0
10.0
7.0

20.1
10.4
9.6

12.3
9.3
3.0

12.0
6.0
6.0

18.0
8.2
9.7

5.4
3.6
1.8

NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those
for 2004. 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, 2004-05 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2004
Foreign born

Native born

Characteristic
Number

Total, 16 years and over ...........................
Men .............................................................
Women .......................................................

Median
weekly
earnings

2005

Number

Earnings
Foreign born
of foreign
born as
Median
Median
percent of
weekly
Number
weekly
native
earnings
earnings
born 1

Native born

Number

Earnings
of foreign
born as
Median
percent of
weekly
native
earnings
born 1

15,580
9,902
5,678

$502
518
473

85,644
47,099
38,545

$664
749
585

75.6
69.1
81.0

16,340
10,396
5,945

$511
523
487

87,220
48,011
39,210

$677
760
596

75.6
68.9
81.7

1,551
4,631
4,538
3,187
1,409
264

341
491
540
565
607
552

9,325
20,126
22,323
21,799
10,523
1,548

397
624
741
764
740
562

85.8
78.7
72.9
73.9
82.0
98.2

1,578
4,831
4,700
3,352
1,582
297

353
495
587
563
607
494

9,529
20,181
22,403
22,299
11,192
1,616

404
633
755
772
757
578

87.3
78.3
77.8
73.0
80.2
85.4

2,852
1,268
3,383
7,899

731
533
699
402

66,563
10,374
1,009
6,163

702
529
738
539

104.1
100.8
94.8
74.5

2,978
1,326
3,541
8,331

733
521
747
412

67,458
10,671
1,041
6,343

720
521
777
555

101.8
100.0
96.1
74.2

14,029
4,094
3,486
2,216
4,234

524
373
478
595
943

76,319
4,439
23,655
22,630
25,595

710
433
586
668
994

73.7
86.2
81.5
89.0
94.9

14,762
4,305
3,589
2,316
4,553

543
385
496
592
960

77,691
4,557
23,926
23,155
26,053

724
442
594
679
1,023

74.9
87.0
83.4
87.2
93.8

Age
16 to 24 years .............................................
25 to 34 years .............................................
35 to 44 years .............................................
45 to 54 years .............................................
55 to 64 years .............................................
65 years and over .......................................
Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 2
White non-Hispanic or Latino ....................
Black non-Hispanic or Latino .....................
Asian non-Hispanic or Latino .....................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .........................
Educational attainment
Total, 25 years and over ..........................
Less than a high school diploma ................
High school graduates, no college 3 ...........
Some college or associate degree .............
Bachelor’s degree and higher 4 ..................

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 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those for 2004.
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,
2004-05 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
2004

2005

Civilian labor force
Census regions and
divisions

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Total

Participation rate

Employed

Civilian labor force

Civilian
noninstituUnemployed
tional
Unemploy- population
Number
ment rate

Unemployed
Total

Participation rate

Employed
Number

Unemployment rate

FOREIGN BORN
Northeast ..................
New England ..........
Middle Atlantic ........

7,030
1,371
5,659

4,666
933
3,734

66.4
68.0
66.0

4,409
884
3,525

258
49
209

5.5
5.2
5.6

7,236
1,450
5,785

4,817
996
3,822

66.6
68.6
66.1

4,588
946
3,642

229
50
180

4.8
5.0
4.7

South ........................
South Atlantic .........
East South
Central ................
West South
Central ................

9,402
5,682

6,485
3,930

69.0
69.2

6,177
3,741

308
190

4.8
4.8

9,675
5,879

6,715
4,073

69.4
69.3

6,444
3,920

272
152

4.0
3.7

433

313

72.3

307

6

2.0

505

354

70.2

335

19

5.4

3,286

2,241

68.2

2,129

113

5.0

3,291

2,288

69.5

2,188

100

4.4

Midwest ....................
East North Central ..
West North
Central ................

3,460
2,636

2,364
1,759

68.3
66.7

2,226
1,658

138
101

5.8
5.7

3,517
2,671

2,398
1,802

68.2
67.5

2,274
1,706

124
96

5.2
5.3

824

605

73.4

568

37

6.2

846

596

70.5

568

28

4.7

West .........................
Mountain .................
Pacific .....................

11,870
1,897
9,974

7,918
1,308
6,610

66.7
69.0
66.3

7,444
1,244
6,200

474
64
410

6.0
4.9
6.2

12,131
1,972
10,158

8,111
1,344
6,767

66.9
68.1
66.6

7,716
1,289
6,427

395
55
340

4.9
4.1
5.0

Northeast ..................
New England ..........
Middle Atlantic ........

35,520
9,800
25,721

22,956
6,603
16,353

64.6
67.4
63.6

21,738
6,288
15,450

1,218
315
903

5.3
4.8
5.5

35,409
9,763
25,646

22,903
6,572
16,332

64.7
67.3
63.7

21,796
6,261
15,535

1,108
311
797

4.8
4.7
4.9

South ........................
South Atlantic .........
East South
Central ................
West South
Central ................

70,414
36,308

45,150
23,330

64.1
64.3

42,747
22,206

2,403
1,125

5.3
4.8

71,597
36,968

46,084
23,909

64.4
64.7

43,740
22,797

2,344
1,112

5.1
4.7

12,914

8,032

62.2

7,581

451

5.6

13,021

8,024

61.6

7,574

450

5.6

21,192

13,787

65.1

12,960

827

6.0

21,608

14,151

65.5

13,369

783

5.5

Midwest ....................
East North Central ..
West North
Central ................

46,829
32,559

32,028
21,837

68.4
67.1

30,196
20,502

1,831
1,335

5.7
6.1

47,205
32,777

32,193
21,944

68.2
66.9

30,440
20,661

1,753
1,283

5.4
5.8

14,270

10,190

71.4

9,695

496

4.9

14,428

10,249

71.0

9,780

470

4.6

West .........................
Mountain .................
Pacific .....................

38,830
12,838
25,992

25,835
8,724
17,111

66.5
68.0
65.8

24,316
8,277
16,040

1,519
448
1,071

5.9
5.1
6.3

39,313
13,167
26,146

26,097
8,919
17,178

66.4
67.7
65.7

24,732
8,500
16,231

1,365
418
947

5.2
4.7
5.5

NATIVE BORN

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 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those for 2004. See the Technical Note for
further information.