Here’s a stat that might make you pause: compared to last year, over 1,000,000 fewer native-born Americans are employed, while the number of foreign-born workers has increased by about 400,000, according to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
While the U.S. economy added 227,000 jobs in November, outpacing expectations, the trend reveals an ongoing shift in the labor market. Native-born employment hasn’t rebounded to pre-pandemic levels—it’s still 619,000 jobs short, while foreign-born employment has fully recovered and continues to grow.
What’s Driving the Shift?
Some economists believe government spending is playing a big role. With sectors like healthcare and government adding tens of thousands of jobs, much of the growth is tied to public funding rather than private-sector innovation. In October alone, the government added 33,000 jobs, while the healthcare industry added 54,000—industries heavily supported by taxpayer dollars.
Critics argue this redistribution of funds doesn’t fuel sustainable growth. Peter Earle, an economist at the American Institute for Economic Research, pointed out that government spending involves “taxing certain citizens or floating more trillions of dollars in debt to send those dollars to other citizens,” rather than encouraging entrepreneurship or private-sector expansion.
Inflation’s Bite
Even with job creation, real wages are struggling to keep pace with inflation. Since the start of the Biden administration, prices have risen by over 20%, and inflation peaked at 9% in mid-2022 before moderating. This means that while people may have jobs, their paychecks aren’t stretching as far.
A Divided Labor Market
These trends raise deeper questions:
- Are current policies favoring foreign-born workers over native-born Americans?
- Can public spending continue to sustain job growth without private-sector innovation catching up?
- How do rising prices affect the real benefits of employment for everyday workers?
Regardless of where you stand, the numbers tell a compelling story about a labor market in transition. What do you think? Is this a short-term adjustment or a more significant shift in the American workforce?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
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