Recent campaign rally in Nevada, former President Donald Trump made a bold assertion regarding job creation under President Biden, alleging that nearly all new jobs had been snagged by “illegal aliens.” However, a thorough fact-check conducted by CNN on June 17, 2024, has debunked this claim as false.
Trump’s statement implies a significant skew in job distribution towards undocumented immigrants, suggesting they are benefiting disproportionately from Biden’s economic policies. Official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, paints a contrasting picture.
Since Biden assumed office, there has indeed been a notable increase in employment among U.S.-born workers, indicating that native Americans are also finding opportunities in the job market. Specifically, the number of employed U.S.-born workers has risen by approximately 3.5%.
Concurrently, the employment of foreign-born workers has seen a more pronounced increase of 20% during Biden’s presidency. This group encompasses legally-admitted immigrants, refugees, temporary residents, as well as undocumented immigrants. It’s crucial to note that categorizing all foreign-born workers as “illegal aliens,” as Trump does, oversimplifies the complexity of immigration statuses.
Economists argue that immigrants contribute significantly to the strength and resilience of the U.S. labor market. Both immigrant and native-born unemployment rates remain relatively low compared to historical averages, highlighting the broader economic benefits of a diverse workforce.
Despite Trump’s claims, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not differentiate between legal statuses in its public data on foreign-born workers, making it challenging to precisely quantify how many jobs have been filled by undocumented immigrants versus those legally authorized to work.
Recent data from May shows that approximately 130.4 million native-born Americans were employed, reflecting an increase of nearly 4.5 million since early in Biden’s tenure. In comparison, about 30.9 million foreign-born individuals were employed, marking a rise of 5.1 million over the same period. This data underscores growth in employment across both demographics, albeit at varying rates.
Analysts from Standard Chartered Bank have estimated that a significant portion of recent job growth has indeed been driven by immigrants who hold legal work authorization in the U.S. This includes asylum seekers, humanitarian parolees, and refugees, none of whom are working illegally, contrary to Trump’s assertions.
Throughout Biden’s presidency, employment rates among foreign-born workers have climbed from 60.2% to 64%, while native-born workers have seen a rise from 57.7% to 59.3% over the same timeframe. These trends reflect ongoing efforts in economic recovery post-pandemic and highlight the role of immigrants in maintaining labor force participation rates.
In conclusion, while Trump’s claim that all new jobs under Biden have gone to “illegal aliens” is widely debunked, the reality is more nuanced. Both U.S.-born and foreign-born workers have seen increased employment opportunities, underscoring a dynamic and inclusive economic recovery under President Biden.
