1

Technical information: (202) 691-6378

 http://www.bls.gov/cps/

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-640

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Friday, April 14, 2006

FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS: LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS IN 2005

In 2005, foreign-born workers made up about 15 percent of the U.S. civilian labor force age 16 and

over, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The unemployment

rate for the foreign born fell to 4.6 percent in 2005, down from 5.5 percent in the prior year. Over the year,

the jobless rate of the native born declined from 5.5 to 5.2 percent.

This news release compares the labor force characteristics of the foreign born with those of their nativeborn counterparts. The data on nativity are collected as part of the Current Population Survey (CPS), a

monthly sample survey of approximately 60,000 households. The foreign born are persons who reside in

the United States but who were born outside the country or one of its outlying areas to parents who were

not U.S. citizens. The foreign born include legally-admitted immigrants, refugees, temporary residents such

as students and temporary workers, and undocumented immigrants. The survey data, however, do not

separately identify the numbers of persons in these categories. For further information about the survey, see

the Technical Note.

Demographic Characteristics

The demographic characteristics of the foreign-born labor force differ significantly in many respects from

those of the native born. For example, men made up a larger proportion of the foreign-born labor force

(60 percent) in 2005 than they did of the native-born labor force (52 percent). Also, the proportion of the

foreign-born labor force made up of 25- to 54-year olds is higher than for their native-born counterparts

(76 and 68 percent, respectively). (See table 1.)

About 49 percent of the foreign-born labor force was Hispanic, and 22 percent was Asian, compared

with about 7 and 1 percent, respectively, of the native-born labor force. One out of 5 of the foreign-born

labor force was white, compared with nearly 4 out of 5 of the native-born labor force. (Data in this release

are presented for non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and Asians and for persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.)

(See table 1.)

In terms of educational attainment, 28 percent of the foreign-born labor force 25 years old and over

had not completed high school in 2005, compared with about 7 percent of the native-born labor force.

About equal proportions of both the foreign and native born had a bachelor’s degree and higher (31 and

33 percent, respectively). (See table 1.)

On a regional basis, the foreign-born share of the labor force ranged from about a quarter in the West

to 7 percent in the Midwest. (See table 6.)
2

Labor Force and Unemployment

In 2005, foreign-born workers made up about 15 percent of the U.S. civilian labor force, little different

from a year earlier. About 22 million, or 67.7 percent, of the foreign born were in the labor force in 2005,

about the same proportion as in 2004. The labor force participation rate of the native born was 65.8 percent in 2005, about unchanged from the prior year. (See table 1.)

Over the year, the number of foreign-born labor force participants edged up by 609,000, about a third

of the total labor force increase in 2005. Since 2000, the foreign born have accounted for 46 percent of the

net gain in the total labor force.

Foreign-born men were more likely to be labor force participants (81.3 percent) than their native-born

counterparts (71.9 percent). In contrast, 54.1 percent of foreign-born women were labor force participants,

compared with 60.1 percent of native-born women.

The labor force participation rate of foreign-born women with children under 18 was 58.5 percent in

2005, compared with 73.2 percent for native-born mothers. Among women with children under age 3, the

participation rate for the foreign born was 44.2 percent, while that for the native born was 62.0 percent. In

2005, participation among both groups of mothers of young children edged up from the prior year. About

96 percent of both foreign- and native-born fathers with children under 3 were in the labor force in 2005.

(See table 2.)

The unemployment rate of the foreign born declined from 5.5 percent in 2004 to 4.6 percent in 2005.

Over the year, the unemployment rate for foreign-born men declined from 5.0 to 4.1 percent, and the rate

for foreign-born women declined from 6.3 to 5.4 percent. Among the native born, the unemployment rate

declined from 5.5 to 5.2 percent. (See table 1.) In 2005, the unemployment rate of the foreign born was

lower than that of the native born for the first time since the data series began in 1996.

Occupation

Management, professional, and related occupations made up the largest share of employment for both

foreign-born and native-born workers in 2005, 26 and 36 percent, respectively. Foreign-born workers were

more likely than their native-born counterparts to be employed in several service occupations, including food

preparation and serving related occupations, and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations.

Foreign-born workers also were more likely than the native born to be employed in farming, fishing, and

forestry; construction and extraction; and production occupations. The foreign born were less likely than the

native born to work in sales and office occupations. (See table 4.)

Earnings

In 2005, the median usual weekly earnings of foreign-born full-time wage and salary workers were $511,

compared with $677 for the native born. Among men, median earnings were $523 per week for the foreign

born, compared with $760 for the native born; the median for foreign-born women was $487, compared

with $596 for the native born. As with the native born, the earnings of foreign-born workers increased with

education. The foreign born 25 years of age and over with less than a high school education earned $385

per week in 2005, while those with bachelor’s degrees and higher earned 2-1/2 times as much—$960 a

week. (See table 5.)
Technical Note

The estimates in this release are based on annual average

data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS, which

is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor

Statistics (BLS), is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households

that provides information on the labor force status, demographics, and other characteristics of the nation’s civilian

noninstitutional population age 16 and over. In response to the

increased demand for statistical information about the foreign

born, questions on nativity, citizenship, year of entry into the

United States, and the parental nativity of respondents were

added to the CPS beginning in January 1994. Prior to 1994, the

primary sources of data on the foreign born were the decennial

census, two CPS supplements (conducted in April 1983 and

November 1989), and, to some extent, information collected by

the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly known

as the Immigration and Naturalization Service).

The foreign- and native-born data for 2005 are not strictly

comparable with data for 2004 and earlier years because of the

introduction in January 2005 of revised population controls

used in the CPS. The effect of the revised population controls

on the foreign- and native-born estimates is unknown.

However, the effect of the new controls on the monthly CPS

estimates was to decrease the December 2004 employment

level by 45,000 and the unemployment level by 4,000. The

updated controls had little or no effect on unemployment

rates and other ratios. For additional information, see

“Adjustments to Household Survey Population Estimates in

January 2005” available on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/

cps/cps05adj.pdf.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200,

TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.

Reliability of the estimates

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire

population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending upon the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that

an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6

standard errors from the “true” population value because of

sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-

percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.

Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the

failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain

information for all respondents in the sample, inability or

unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information

and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.

For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS

and information on estimating standard errors, see the

“Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error” section of

Employment and Earnings.

Concepts and definitions

Foreign born. The foreign born are persons residing in the

United States who were not U.S. citizens at birth. That is, they

were born outside the United States or one of its outlying areas

such as Puerto Rico or Guam, to parents neither of whom was

a U.S. citizen. The foreign-born population includes legallyadmitted immigrants, refugees, temporary residents such

as students and temporary workers, and undocumented

immigrants. The survey data, however, do not separately

identify the number of persons in these categories.

Native born. The native born are persons born in the United

States or one of its outlying areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam

or who were born abroad of at least one parent who was a U.S.

citizen.

Race and ethnicity groups. In this release, the data are

presented for non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and Asians and for

persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. These four groups are

mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups

(including persons who selected more than one race category)

are included in the overall totals but are not shown separately

because the number of survey respondents is too small to

develop statistically reliable estimates. The presentation of the

data on race and ethnicity in this release differs from that which

appears in most analyses of CPS labor force data in that persons

of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are separated from the race

groups. Because persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity can

be of any race, they are usually included in the race groups as

well as shown separately in the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

group. The reason for the difference in the data presentation

in this release is because about half of the foreign born are

of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and they have somewhat

different labor force characteristics than the non-Hispanic foreign

born.

Employed. Employed persons are (a) all those who, during

the survey reference week, did any work at all as paid

employees, worked in their own business, profession, or on

their own farm, or who worked 15 hours or more as unpaid

workers in a family-operated enterprise; and (b) all those who

did not work but had jobs or businesses from which they were

temporarily absent due to illness, bad weather, vacation,

childcare problems, labor disputes, or personal reasons,

whether or not they were paid for the time off and whether or

not they were seeking other jobs.
Unemployed. The unemployed are persons who had no

employment during the reference week, were available for work

at that time, except for temporary illness, and had made specific

efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period

ending with the reference week. Persons who were waiting to

be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not

be looking for work to be classified as unemployed.

Civilian labor force. The civilian labor force comprises all

persons classified as employed or unemployed.

Unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is the number

unemployed as a percent of the civilian labor force.

Labor force participation rate. The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population.

Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before

taxes and other deductions and include any overtime pay,

commissions, or tips usually received (at the main job in the

case of multiple jobholders). Earnings reported on a basis other

than weekly are converted to a weekly equivalent.

Median earnings. The median is the amount which divides

a given earnings distribution into two equal groups, one having

earnings above the median and the other having earnings below

the median.
Table 1. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations by selected characteristics, 

2004-05 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic

2004 2005

Civilian

noninstitutional

population

Civilian labor force

Civilian

noninstitutional

population

Civilian labor force

Total Participation rate Employed

Unemployed

Total Participation rate Employed

Unemployed

Number

Unemployment

rate

Number

Unemployment

rate

TOTAL

 Total 16 years and over .................... 223,357 147,401 66.0 139,252 8,149 5.5 226,082 149,320 66.0 141,730 7,591 5.1

Men ..................................................... 107,710 78,980 73.3 74,524 4,456 5.6 109,151 80,033 73.3 75,973 4,059 5.1

Women ............................................... 115,647 68,421 59.2 64,728 3,694 5.4 116,931 69,288 59.3 65,757 3,531 5.1

FOREIGN BORN

 Total 16 years and over .................... 31,763 21,433 67.5 20,255 1,178 5.5 32,558 22,042 67.7 21,022 1,020 4.6

Men ..................................................... 15,913 12,905 81.1 12,263 642 5.0 16,321 13,263 81.3 12,720 544 4.1

Women ............................................... 15,849 8,528 53.8 7,992 536 6.3 16,236 8,779 54.1 8,302 477 5.4

Age

16 to 24 years ..................................... 4,191 2,497 59.6 2,278 219 8.8 4,168 2,469 59.2 2,277 192 7.8

25 to 34 years ..................................... 7,821 5,988 76.6 5,670 318 5.3 7,902 6,094 77.1 5,824 270 4.4

35 to 44 years ..................................... 7,481 6,085 81.3 5,787 298 4.9 7,620 6,162 80.9 5,930 232 3.8

45 to 54 years ..................................... 5,342 4,305 80.6 4,096 210 4.9 5,578 4,473 80.2 4,285 188 4.2

55 to 64 years ..................................... 3,294 2,050 62.2 1,945 105 5.1 3,499 2,278 65.1 2,163 115 5.1

65 years and over ............................... 3,634 507 14.0 479 28 5.5 3,791 566 14.9 542 24 4.2

Race and Hispanic 

or Latino ethnicity 1

White non-Hispanic or Latino ............ 7,141 4,282 60.0 4,088 194 4.5 7,239 4,351 60.1 4,187 165 3.8

Black non-Hispanic or Latino ............. 2,360 1,731 73.4 1,595 136 7.9 2,360 1,746 74.0 1,631 115 6.6

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino ............. 7,062 4,738 67.1 4,530 208 4.4 7,289 4,922 67.5 4,728 194 3.9

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ................. 14,878 10,439 70.2 9,808 631 6.0 15,360 10,794 70.3 10,252 541 5.0

Educational attainment

 Total, 25 years and over .................. 27,572 18,936 68.7 17,977 959 5.1 28,389 19,573 68.9 18,745 828 4.2

Less than a high school diploma ........ 8,796 5,351 60.8 4,974 377 7.0 9,053 5,545 61.2 5,227 318 5.7

High school graduates, no college 2 ... 6,929 4,707 67.9 4,493 214 4.5 7,106 4,804 67.6 4,599 205 4.3

Some college or associate degree ..... 4,259 3,104 72.9 2,944 161 5.2 4,354 3,181 73.1 3,064 118 3.7

Bachelor’s degree and higher 3 .......... 7,587 5,773 76.1 5,566 207 3.6 7,876 6,043 76.7 5,856 188 3.1

NATIVE BORN

 Total 16 years and over .................... 191,594 125,968 65.7 118,997 6,971 5.5 193,525 127,278 65.8 120,708 6,570 5.2

Men ..................................................... 91,797 66,075 72.0 62,261 3,813 5.8 92,830 66,769 71.9 63,254 3,516 5.3

Women ............................................... 99,797 59,893 60.0 56,736 3,158 5.3 100,695 60,509 60.1 57,454 3,055 5.0

Age

16 to 24 years ..................................... 32,228 19,771 61.3 17,352 2,419 12.2 32,505 19,821 61.0 17,493 2,328 11.7

25 to 34 years ..................................... 31,118 26,219 84.3 24,753 1,466 5.6 31,162 26,247 84.2 24,856 1,391 5.3

35 to 44 years ..................................... 35,745 30,072 84.1 28,793 1,280 4.3 35,385 29,868 84.4 28,699 1,168 3.9

45 to 54 years ..................................... 35,904 29,452 82.0 28,374 1,079 3.7 36,529 29,930 81.9 28,922 1,008 3.4

55 to 64 years ..................................... 25,625 15,963 62.3 15,386 577 3.6 26,666 16,701 62.6 16,186 515 3.1

65 years and over ............................... 30,975 4,490 14.5 4,339 151 3.4 31,278 4,712 15.1 4,552 160 3.4

Race and Hispanic 

or Latino ethnicity 1

White non-Hispanic or Latino ............ 149,414 98,920 66.2 94,480 4,440 4.5 150,155 99,539 66.3 95,430 4,109 4.1

Black non-Hispanic or Latino ............. 22,876 14,355 62.8 12,817 1,537 10.7 23,283 14,694 63.1 13,155 1,538 10.5

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino ............. 2,358 1,455 61.7 1,391 64 4.4 2,444 1,496 61.2 1,434 62 4.2

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ................. 13,231 8,833 66.8 8,122 711 8.0 13,773 9,030 65.6 8,380 650 7.2

Educational attainment

 Total, 25 years and over .................. 159,366 106,197 66.6 101,645 4,552 4.3 161,019 107,457 66.7 103,215 4,242 3.9

Less than a high school diploma ........ 18,873 7,118 37.7 6,434 684 9.6 18,818 7,135 37.9 6,485 649 9.1

High school graduates, no college 2 ... 52,930 33,128 62.6 31,451 1,676 5.1 53,302 33,392 62.6 31,799 1,593 4.8

Some college or associate degree ..... 43,297 31,334 72.4 30,033 1,301 4.2 43,915 31,793 72.4 30,561 1,232 3.9

Bachelor’s degree and higher 3 .......... 44,266 34,617 78.2 33,727 891 2.6 44,984 35,137 78.1 34,369 768 2.2

1 Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. 2 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 3 Includes persons with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees.

 NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those for 2004. See the Technical

Note for further information.
Table 2. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 16 years and over by

presence and age of youngest child and sex, 2004-05 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic

2004 2005

Total Men Women Total Men Women

FOREIGN BORN

With own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 12,740 6,060 6,680 12,781 6,084 6,697

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 9,614 5,710 3,904 9,653 5,737 3,916

 Participation rate ............................................. 75.5 94.2 58.4 75.5 94.3 58.5

 Employed .......................................................... 9,125 5,474 3,652 9,247 5,547 3,700

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 71.6 90.3 54.7 72.3 91.2 55.2

 Unemployed ..................................................... 489 236 253 406 190 216

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 5.1 4.1 6.5 4.2 3.3 5.5

With own children 6 to 17, none younger

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 6,268 2,907 3,361 6,353 2,950 3,403

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 5,024 2,715 2,309 5,053 2,750 2,303

 Participation rate ............................................. 80.1 93.4 68.7 79.5 93.2 67.7

 Employed .......................................................... 4,785 2,605 2,180 4,852 2,658 2,194

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 76.3 89.6 64.9 76.4 90.1 64.5

 Unemployed ..................................................... 238 110 129 201 93 108

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 4.7 4.0 5.6 4.0 3.4 4.7

With own children under 6

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 6,472 3,153 3,319 6,428 3,134 3,294

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 4,590 2,995 1,595 4,600 2,987 1,613

 Participation rate ............................................. 70.9 95.0 48.1 71.6 95.3 49.0

 Employed .......................................................... 4,340 2,869 1,471 4,395 2,889 1,505

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 67.1 91.0 44.3 68.4 92.2 45.7

 Unemployed ..................................................... 250 126 124 206 98 108

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 5.5 4.2 7.8 4.5 3.3 6.7

With own children under 3

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 3,789 1,865 1,924 3,732 1,841 1,891

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 2,596 1,778 819 2,595 1,760 835

 Participation rate ............................................. 68.5 95.3 42.6 69.5 95.6 44.2

 Employed .......................................................... 2,457 1,705 751 2,489 1,711 778

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 64.8 91.4 39.1 66.7 93.0 41.1

 Unemployed ..................................................... 139 72 67 106 49 57

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 5.4 4.1 8.2 4.1 2.8 6.8

With no own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 19,023 9,853 9,170 19,777 10,237 9,539

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 11,819 7,195 4,624 12,389 7,526 4,863

 Participation rate ............................................. 62.1 73.0 50.4 62.6 73.5 51.0

 Employed .......................................................... 11,130 6,789 4,340 11,775 7,173 4,603

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 58.5 68.9 47.3 59.5 70.1 48.2

 Unemployed ..................................................... 690 406 283 614 354 260

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 5.8 5.6 6.1 5.0 4.7 5.4

NATIVE BORN

With own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 53,136 23,424 29,712 52,845 23,226 29,619

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 43,757 22,053 21,703 43,521 21,852 21,669

 Participation rate ............................................. 82.3 94.1 73.0 82.4 94.1 73.2

 Employed .......................................................... 41,882 21,342 20,540 41,727 21,202 20,524

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 78.8 91.1 69.1 79.0 91.3 69.3

 Unemployed ..................................................... 1,875 711 1,163 1,794 650 1,145

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 4.3 3.2 5.4 4.1 3.0 5.3

With own children 6 to 17, none younger

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 30,101 13,279 16,821 30,095 13,252 16,843

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 25,642 12,358 13,284 25,526 12,329 13,197

 Participation rate ............................................. 85.2 93.1 79.0 84.8 93.0 78.4

 Employed .......................................................... 24,700 11,993 12,707 24,600 11,977 12,623

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 82.1 90.3 75.5 81.7 90.4 74.9

 Unemployed ..................................................... 942 365 577 926 351 574

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 3.7 3.0 4.3 3.6 2.9 4.4

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 2. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 16 years and over by

presence and age of youngest child and sex, 2004-05 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic

2004 2005

Total Men Women Total Men Women

NATIVE BORN—Continued

With own children under 6

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 23,036 10,145 12,891 22,749 9,974 12,776

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 18,115 9,696 8,419 17,995 9,524 8,472

 Participation rate ............................................. 78.6 95.6 65.3 79.1 95.5 66.3

 Employed .......................................................... 17,182 9,349 7,833 17,127 9,225 7,901

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 74.6 92.2 60.8 75.3 92.5 61.8

 Unemployed ..................................................... 933 347 586 869 298 570

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 5.1 3.6 7.0 4.8 3.1 6.7

With own children under 3

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 13,363 5,941 7,422 13,384 5,910 7,474

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 10,252 5,693 4,559 10,285 5,650 4,635

 Participation rate ............................................. 76.7 95.8 61.4 76.8 95.6 62.0

 Employed .......................................................... 9,696 5,483 4,212 9,769 5,470 4,299

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 72.6 92.3 56.8 73.0 92.6 57.5

 Unemployed ..................................................... 556 210 346 516 180 336

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 5.4 3.7 7.6 5.0 3.2 7.3

With no own children under 18

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 138,458 68,373 70,085 140,680 69,605 71,076

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 82,212 44,021 38,190 83,757 44,917 38,840

 Participation rate ............................................. 59.4 64.4 54.5 59.5 64.5 54.6

 Employed .......................................................... 77,115 40,919 36,196 78,981 42,051 36,930

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 55.7 59.8 51.6 56.1 60.4 52.0

 Unemployed ..................................................... 5,096 3,102 1,994 4,776 2,866 1,910

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 6.2 7.0 5.2 5.7 6.4 4.9

 NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly

comparable with those for 2004. See the Technical Note for further information.
Table 3. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 25 years and over by educational attainment,

race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2004-05 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic

2004 2005

Less than

a high

school

diploma

High school

graduates,

no college 1

Some

college or

associate

degree

Bachelor’s

degree and

higher 2

Less than

a high

school

diploma

High school

graduates,

no college 1

Some

college or

associate

degree

Bachelor’s

degree and

higher 2

FOREIGN BORN

White non-Hispanic or Latino 

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 899 1,833 1,281 2,474 928 1,869 1,258 2,525

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 298 981 811 1,814 345 988 797 1,862

 Participation rate ............................................. 33.2 53.5 63.3 73.3 37.1 52.8 63.4 73.8

 Employed .......................................................... 279 948 768 1,747 325 955 766 1,805

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 31.1 51.7 60.0 70.6 35.0 51.1 60.9 71.5

 Unemployed ..................................................... 19 33 43 67 19 33 31 57

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 6.4 3.4 5.3 3.7 5.6 3.4 3.9 3.1

Black non-Hispanic or Latino 

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 371 650 451 569 361 641 499 558

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 220 495 364 487 219 490 407 468

 Participation rate ............................................. 59.4 76.1 80.7 85.6 60.7 76.5 81.5 83.9

 Employed .......................................................... 198 463 332 463 203 458 382 452

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 53.4 71.1 73.7 81.3 56.1 71.5 76.6 80.9

 Unemployed ..................................................... 22 32 31 25 17 32 25 17

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 10.1 6.5 8.6 5.0 7.5 6.5 6.1 3.6

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino 

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 874 1,291 986 3,163 857 1,332 998 3,385

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 390 862 727 2,394 402 845 725 2,606

 Participation rate ............................................. 44.6 66.8 73.8 75.7 46.9 63.5 72.7 77.0

 Employed .......................................................... 366 819 688 2,321 378 804 702 2,524

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 41.9 63.4 69.8 73.4 44.1 60.4 70.3 74.6

 Unemployed ..................................................... 24 43 40 72 24 41 23 82

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 6.1 5.0 5.4 3.0 5.9 4.9 3.2 3.2

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 6,618 3,088 1,474 1,280 6,870 3,207 1,534 1,309

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 4,422 2,315 1,147 997 4,558 2,437 1,202 1,026

 Participation rate ............................................. 66.8 75.0 77.9 77.9 66.4 76.0 78.3 78.4

 Employed .......................................................... 4,111 2,209 1,102 957 4,301 2,340 1,164 997

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 62.1 71.5 74.8 74.8 62.6 72.9 75.9 76.2

 Unemployed ..................................................... 311 105 46 40 257 98 38 29

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 7.0 4.6 4.0 4.0 5.6 4.0 3.1 2.9

NATIVE BORN

White non-Hispanic or Latino 

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 12,622 42,042 34,302 38,440 12,313 42,100 34,792 38,847

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 4,546 25,719 24,536 29,797 4,479 25,768 24,879 30,102

 Participation rate ............................................. 36.0 61.2 71.5 77.5 36.4 61.2 71.5 77.5

 Employed .......................................................... 4,193 24,615 23,681 29,079 4,157 24,740 24,058 29,490

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 33.2 58.5 69.0 75.6 33.8 58.8 69.1 75.9

 Unemployed ..................................................... 353 1,103 854 718 322 1,027 821 612

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 7.8 4.3 3.5 2.4 7.2 4.0 3.3 2.0

Black non-Hispanic or Latino 

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 3,391 6,600 5,068 3,097 3,464 6,778 5,039 3,211

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 1,228 4,400 3,768 2,554 1,277 4,538 3,780 2,617

 Participation rate ............................................. 36.2 66.7 74.4 82.5 36.9 66.9 75.0 81.5

 Employed .......................................................... 1,025 4,004 3,483 2,451 1,077 4,135 3,518 2,528

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 30.2 60.7 68.7 79.1 31.1 61.0 69.8 78.7

 Unemployed ..................................................... 203 396 285 104 200 403 263 89

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 16.5 9.0 7.6 4.1 15.7 8.9 6.9 3.4

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino 

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 142 320 381 807 158 303 380 859

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 55 174 259 640 57 162 257 680

 Participation rate ............................................. 38.4 54.6 68.0 79.2 36.3 53.5 67.8 79.2

 Employed .......................................................... 52 170 252 624 56 158 249 664

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 36.8 53.2 65.9 77.3 35.3 52.0 65.5 77.3

 Unemployed ..................................................... 2 4 8 16 2 5 9 17

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 4.2 2.4 3.0 2.5 2.8 2.8 3.4 2.4

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 25 years and over by educational attainment,

race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2004-05 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic

2004 2005

Less than

a high

school

diploma

High school

graduates,

no college 1

Some

college or

associate

degree

Bachelor’s

degree and

higher 2

Less than

a high

school

diploma

High school

graduates,

no college 1

Some

college or

associate

degree

Bachelor’s

degree and

higher 2

NATIVE BORN—Continued

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population ....................... 2,297 3,084 2,590 1,406 2,455 3,182 2,735 1,504

 Civilian labor force .............................................. 1,131 2,251 2,075 1,207 1,163 2,313 2,164 1,272

 Participation rate ............................................. 49.2 73.0 80.1 85.9 47.4 72.7 79.1 84.5

 Employed .......................................................... 1,024 2,120 1,966 1,170 1,066 2,195 2,064 1,235

 Employment-population ratio .......................... 44.6 68.8 75.9 83.3 43.4 69.0 75.5 82.1

 Unemployed ..................................................... 106 131 109 37 97 118 100 36

 Unemployment rate ........................................ 9.4 5.8 5.2 3.1 8.4 5.1 4.6 2.9

1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 2 Includes persons with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees.

 NOTE: Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Due to the introduction of revised population

controls in January 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those for 2004. See the Technical Note for further information.
Table 4. Employed foreign-born and native-born persons 16 years and over by occupation and sex, 

2005 annual averages

(Percent distribution)

Occupation

Foreign born Native born

Total Men Women Total Men Women

 Total employed (thousands) ........................................................... 21,022 12,720 8,302 120,708 63,254 57,454

 Percent ........................................................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Management, professional, and related occupations ......................... 26.2 23.9 29.6 36.2 33.7 39.1

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ........ 9.5 9.2 10.0 15.3 16.7 13.7

 Management occupations .............................................................. 6.6 7.2 5.7 11.0 13.1 8.7

 Business and financial operations occupations .............................. 2.9 2.0 4.3 4.3 3.6 5.0

 Professional and related occupations ............................................... 16.7 14.7 19.6 21.0 16.9 25.4

 Computer and mathematical occupations ...................................... 3.2 3.9 2.1 2.1 3.0 1.2

 Architecture and engineering occupations ..................................... 2.2 3.0 .9 1.9 3.2 .5

 Life, physical, and social science occupations ............................... 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.1 .9

 Community and social services occupations .................................. .9 .8 1.2 1.6 1.2 2.1

 Legal occupations ........................................................................... .5 .3 .6 1.3 1.2 1.3

 Education, training, and library occupations ................................... 3.2 1.9 5.2 6.2 3.0 9.7

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations .......... 1.2 1.1 1.4 2.0 2.0 2.1

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations ......................... 4.3 2.6 7.1 4.8 2.3 7.6

Service occupations ........................................................................... 22.8 17.8 30.4 15.2 12.0 18.7

 Healthcare support occupations ....................................................... 2.6 .6 5.6 2.1 .4 4.0

 Protective service occupations ......................................................... .9 1.1 .5 2.2 3.3 1.1

 Food preparation and serving related occupations .......................... 7.8 7.6 8.1 4.8 3.5 6.1

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations ......... 8.1 7.0 9.7 2.9 3.5 2.3

 Personal care and service occupations ............................................ 3.5 1.4 6.7 3.1 1.3 5.2

Sales and office occupations .............................................................. 18.0 12.9 25.9 26.7 18.3 35.9

 Sales and related occupations ......................................................... 9.1 8.0 11.0 12.0 11.6 12.5

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................. 8.9 5.0 14.9 14.6 6.6 23.4

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ........ 16.0 25.2 1.9 9.9 18.1 1.0

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ....................................... 1.8 2.3 1.0 .5 .7 .2

 Construction and extraction occupations .......................................... 11.1 17.9 .6 5.6 10.4 .4

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ........................... 3.2 5.1 .3 3.8 6.9 .3

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ............ 17.0 20.1 12.3 12.0 18.0 5.4

 Production occupations .................................................................... 10.0 10.4 9.3 6.0 8.2 3.6

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................. 7.0 9.6 3.0 6.0 9.7 1.8

 NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those

for 2004. See the Technical Note for further information.
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers for the foreign born and native born by selected

characteristics, 2004-05 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic

2004 2005

Foreign born Native born Earnings

of foreign

born as

percent of

native

born 1

Foreign born Native born Earnings

of foreign

born as

percent of

native

born 1

Number

Median

weekly

earnings

Number

Median

weekly

earnings

Number

Median

weekly

earnings

Number

Median

weekly

earnings

 Total, 16 years and over ........................... 15,580 $502 85,644 $664 75.6 16,340 $511 87,220 $677 75.6

Men ............................................................. 9,902 518 47,099 749 69.1 10,396 523 48,011 760 68.9

Women ....................................................... 5,678 473 38,545 585 81.0 5,945 487 39,210 596 81.7

Age

16 to 24 years ............................................. 1,551 341 9,325 397 85.8 1,578 353 9,529 404 87.3

25 to 34 years ............................................. 4,631 491 20,126 624 78.7 4,831 495 20,181 633 78.3

35 to 44 years ............................................. 4,538 540 22,323 741 72.9 4,700 587 22,403 755 77.8

45 to 54 years ............................................. 3,187 565 21,799 764 73.9 3,352 563 22,299 772 73.0

55 to 64 years ............................................. 1,409 607 10,523 740 82.0 1,582 607 11,192 757 80.2

65 years and over ....................................... 264 552 1,548 562 98.2 297 494 1,616 578 85.4

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 2

White non-Hispanic or Latino .................... 2,852 731 66,563 702 104.1 2,978 733 67,458 720 101.8

Black non-Hispanic or Latino ..................... 1,268 533 10,374 529 100.8 1,326 521 10,671 521 100.0

Asian non-Hispanic or Latino ..................... 3,383 699 1,009 738 94.8 3,541 747 1,041 777 96.1

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ......................... 7,899 402 6,163 539 74.5 8,331 412 6,343 555 74.2

Educational attainment

 Total, 25 years and over .......................... 14,029 524 76,319 710 73.7 14,762 543 77,691 724 74.9

Less than a high school diploma ................ 4,094 373 4,439 433 86.2 4,305 385 4,557 442 87.0

High school graduates, no college 3 ........... 3,486 478 23,655 586 81.5 3,589 496 23,926 594 83.4

Some college or associate degree ............. 2,216 595 22,630 668 89.0 2,316 592 23,155 679 87.2

Bachelor’s degree and higher 4 .................. 4,234 943 25,595 994 94.9 4,553 960 26,053 1,023 93.8

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table. 2 Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. 3 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 4 Includes persons with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees.

 NOTE: Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those for 2004. 

See the Technical Note for further information.
Table 6. Employment status of the foreign-born and native-born populations 16 years and over by census regions and divisions, 

2004-05 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Census regions and

divisions

2004 2005

Civilian

noninstitutional

population

Civilian labor force

Civilian

noninstitutional

population

Civilian labor force

Total Participation rate Employed

Unemployed

Total Participation rate Employed

Unemployed

Number Unemployment rate Number Unemployment rate

FOREIGN BORN

Northeast .................. 7,030 4,666 66.4 4,409 258 5.5 7,236 4,817 66.6 4,588 229 4.8

 New England .......... 1,371 933 68.0 884 49 5.2 1,450 996 68.6 946 50 5.0

 Middle Atlantic ........ 5,659 3,734 66.0 3,525 209 5.6 5,785 3,822 66.1 3,642 180 4.7

South ........................ 9,402 6,485 69.0 6,177 308 4.8 9,675 6,715 69.4 6,444 272 4.0

 South Atlantic ......... 5,682 3,930 69.2 3,741 190 4.8 5,879 4,073 69.3 3,920 152 3.7

 East South

Central ................ 433 313 72.3 307 6 2.0 505 354 70.2 335 19 5.4

 West South

Central ................ 3,286 2,241 68.2 2,129 113 5.0 3,291 2,288 69.5 2,188 100 4.4

Midwest .................... 3,460 2,364 68.3 2,226 138 5.8 3,517 2,398 68.2 2,274 124 5.2

 East North Central .. 2,636 1,759 66.7 1,658 101 5.7 2,671 1,802 67.5 1,706 96 5.3

 West North

Central ................ 824 605 73.4 568 37 6.2 846 596 70.5 568 28 4.7

West ......................... 11,870 7,918 66.7 7,444 474 6.0 12,131 8,111 66.9 7,716 395 4.9

 Mountain ................. 1,897 1,308 69.0 1,244 64 4.9 1,972 1,344 68.1 1,289 55 4.1

 Pacific ..................... 9,974 6,610 66.3 6,200 410 6.2 10,158 6,767 66.6 6,427 340 5.0

NATIVE BORN

Northeast .................. 35,520 22,956 64.6 21,738 1,218 5.3 35,409 22,903 64.7 21,796 1,108 4.8

 New England .......... 9,800 6,603 67.4 6,288 315 4.8 9,763 6,572 67.3 6,261 311 4.7

 Middle Atlantic ........ 25,721 16,353 63.6 15,450 903 5.5 25,646 16,332 63.7 15,535 797 4.9

South ........................ 70,414 45,150 64.1 42,747 2,403 5.3 71,597 46,084 64.4 43,740 2,344 5.1

 South Atlantic ......... 36,308 23,330 64.3 22,206 1,125 4.8 36,968 23,909 64.7 22,797 1,112 4.7

 East South

Central ................ 12,914 8,032 62.2 7,581 451 5.6 13,021 8,024 61.6 7,574 450 5.6

 West South

Central ................ 21,192 13,787 65.1 12,960 827 6.0 21,608 14,151 65.5 13,369 783 5.5

Midwest .................... 46,829 32,028 68.4 30,196 1,831 5.7 47,205 32,193 68.2 30,440 1,753 5.4

 East North Central .. 32,559 21,837 67.1 20,502 1,335 6.1 32,777 21,944 66.9 20,661 1,283 5.8

 West North

Central ................ 14,270 10,190 71.4 9,695 496 4.9 14,428 10,249 71.0 9,780 470 4.6

West ......................... 38,830 25,835 66.5 24,316 1,519 5.9 39,313 26,097 66.4 24,732 1,365 5.2

 Mountain ................. 12,838 8,724 68.0 8,277 448 5.1 13,167 8,919 67.7 8,500 418 4.7

 Pacific ..................... 25,992 17,111 65.8 16,040 1,071 6.3 26,146 17,178 65.7 16,231 947 5.5

 NOTE: The states (plus the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are:

New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont); 

Middle Atlantic (New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania); 

South Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia);

East South Central (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee);

West South Central Division (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas); 

East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin); 

West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota); 

Mountain (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming);

Pacific (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington).

 Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2005, estimated levels for 2005 are not strictly comparable with those for 2004. See the Technical Note for

further information.