The limited information released by the Bureau of Labor Statics (BLS) today shows a disastrous employment situation for both immigrants (legal and illegal) and the native-born. The Center for Immigration Studies plans to release a detailed report looking at the new data, subject to the raw data's timely release.
"A clearer employment picture will emerge once the raw data is released to outside researchers. Nonetheless, what's been released so far still transforms the immigration debate as it relates to the labor market," said the Center's Director of Research, Dr. Steven Camarota. "It is very difficult to argue that the administration should continue to admit new permanent residents and guestworkers on the grounds of any labor shortage."
The information released so far shows:
- The unemployment rate for immigrants in April 2020 jumped to 16.5 percent — 13.8 percentage points higher than in April 2019. For the native-born, it jumped to 14 percent — a 10.6 percentage-point increase.
- The number of immigrants unemployed was 4.3 million in April 2020 — 455 percent higher than in April 2019. Among the native-born, it was 18.2 million — 295 percent higher than in April 2019.