Trends in the Low-Wage Immigrant Labor Force 2000-2005

This brief, from the Urban Institute, examines trends in immigrants’ role in the low-wage and lower-skilled labor force. From 2000 to 2005, the U.S. immigrant population increased from 31.1 to 35.7 million, and the immigrant labor force increased slightly. However, at the same time, the number of unauthorized immigrants increased to more than 11 million. This increase resulted in the number of immigrants in low-wage, lower-skilled jobs in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and services.