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The U.S. labor force saw a notable decline in the number of foreign-born workers over the past year, according to the June jobs report, reflecting a shift in the American workforce as the Trump administration continues its immigration enforcement efforts.
New data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor show the foreign-born labor force fell by about 700,000 over the past year, declining from 32.6 million in June 2025 to 31.9 million in June 2026. The foreign-born civilian population also decreased by 571,000, from 49.1 million to 48.6 million.
The figures mark a reversal from recent years, when immigration significantly expanded the foreign-born workforce.
The largest declines occurred among men. The foreign-born male civilian population fell by 1.14 million over the year, while the foreign-born male labor force declined by 970,000 and employment among foreign-born men dropped by 812,000.
Foreign-born women moved in the opposite direction. Their civilian population increased by 568,000, while their labor force grew by 271,000 and employment rose by 305,000. The data suggest immigration enforcement has had a greater effect on industries employing foreign-born men than on sectors such as health care and child care, where women make up a larger share of the workforce.
The native-born labor force also declined during the past year, falling by 445,000 to 138.3 million, a trend largely attributed to retirements among older Americans. At the same time, the native-born civilian population increased by more than 2.1 million.
Among native-born workers, employment declined by 962,000 for men, while employment among women increased by 308,000.
Overall, the foreign-born share of the U.S. labor force fell from about 19 percent in June 2025 to 18.7 percent in June 2026.
The Labor Department’s data classify all immigrants, including legal permanent residents, naturalized citizens, temporary visa holders and unauthorized immigrants, as “foreign born.” The report does not distinguish among those groups.
The national unemployment rate declined to 4.2 percent in June. The foreign-born unemployment rate, which is not seasonally adjusted, fell to 3.6 percent, reflecting a decline in labor force participation among foreign-born workers.
