What kinds of jobs do immigrants in the U.S. hold?

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By industry When looking at industries – the kind of business that employers do – immigrants accounted for about a quarter of workers (27%) in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector in 2022. This was followed by construction (26%), according to a Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. There are no major U.S. industries in which immigrants outnumber those born in the country.

The largest shares of unauthorized immigrant workers were in the construction (13%), agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (12%), and leisure and hospitality (7%) industries in 2022. Legal immigrant workers accounted for the largest shares in the transportation and utilities (15%) and other services sectors (15%), followed by professional and business services (14%) and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector (14%) – only slightly above their share of the overall workforce.

By occupation When looking at occupations – the kind of work that people do on the job – immigrants overall accounted for the largest share of workers in agriculture, fishing and forestry (43%) in 2022, followed by construction and extraction (29%). Immigrants outnumbered U.S.-born workers in some jobs, such as manicurists/pedicurists (73%), taxi drivers (57%) and drywall/ceiling installers (53%).

Unauthorized immigrant workers accounted for the largest shares in occupations such as drywall/ceiling tile installers and tapers (33%), roofers (32%), painters and paperhangers (28%), other agricultural workers (24%), construction laborers (24 %), and maids and housekeeping cleaners (24%). Legal immigrant workers accounted for the largest shares in jobs such as manicurists/pedicurists (60%), taxi drivers (44%), interpreters and translators (38%), other life scientists (35%), and physical scientists (34%) .