Native-Born Workers Gain 2 Million Jobs As Foreign-Born Employment Drops Under Trump

Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, American-born workers have gained over 2 million jobs, while foreign-born employment has decreased by 543,000, reflecting a significant labor market shift attributed to the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement and 'America First' policies. The June jobs report showed native-born workers added 830,000 jobs in that month alone, pushing labor force participation to record levels, while foreign-born workers declined by 348,000. White House officials claim these changes demonstrate the success of policies prioritizing American workers, with wage growth continuing amid these shifts. However, this decline in foreign-born labor has raised concerns about labor shortages in key sectors such as construction, agriculture, and healthcare, where positions traditionally held by foreign workers are going unfilled due to low interest from U.S. citizens. The U.S. Department of Labor data also indicates a slight decline in labor force participation rates for both American and foreign-born workers over the past year, exacerbating workforce challenges. Experts highlight the need to balance immigration policies with labor market demands to address sector-specific shortages and support economic stability.