Technical information:  (202) 691-6378     USDL 04-2402
               http://www.bls.gov/cps/
                                           For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902     Wednesday, December 1, 2004


       LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS OF FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS IN 2003
                                    
   In 2003, foreign-born workers made up about 14 percent of the U.S. civil-
ian labor force age 16 and over, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
of the U.S. Department of Labor.  About 21.1 million, or 67.4 percent of the
foreign born, were in the labor force, compared with 66.1 percent of the na-
tive born.  The unemployment rates for the foreign born and native born in
2003 were 6.6 and 5.9 percent, respectively, both slightly higher than in
2002.
   
   This news release compares the labor force characteristics of the
foreign born with those of their native-born counterparts.  These data
on nativity are collected as part of the Current Population Survey (CPS),
a monthly sample survey of households that is the primary source of in-
formation on the nation's labor force.  The foreign born are persons re-
siding 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.
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 2003 than they did of the native-born labor force (52 percent).  Also,
the proportion of the foreign-born labor force made up of those of prime
working age (25- to 54-year olds) is higher than for their native-born coun-
terparts (76 and 69 percent, respectively).  (See table 1.)
   
   A much higher proportion of the foreign-born than the native-born labor
force resided in the West region--37 and 20 percent, respectively, in 2003.
About 36 percent of the native-born labor force lived in the South and 26
percent resided in the Midwest, compared with 30 and 11 percent, respec-
tively, of the foreign born.  (See table 6.)
   
   About 48 percent of the foreign-born labor force was Hispanic or Latino,
and 22 percent was Asian, compared with only about 7 and 1 percent, respec-
tively, of the native-born labor force.  Just 1 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 the
Technical Note for more information.)  (See table 1.)
   
   In terms of educational attainment, nearly 30 percent of the foreign-born
labor force 25 years old and over had not completed high school, compared
with only about 7 percent of the native-born labor force.  About equal pro-
portions of both the foreign and native born had a college degree (31 and 32
percent, respectively).

                                  - 2 -

Labor Force Participation
   
   In 2003, foreign-born men were more likely to be labor force participants
(80.6 percent) than their native-born counterparts (72.3 percent).  In con-
trast, foreign-born women were less likely to be labor force participants
than native-born women--54.2 versus 60.4 percent.  For men as well as women,
the differences held across age groups.  (See table 1.)
   
   The labor force participation rate for foreign-born women with children
under age 18 was 59.6 percent in 2003, compared with 73.6 percent for na-
tive-born mothers.  Among women with children under age 3, the participation
rate for the foreign born was 44.7 percent, while that for the native born
was 62.3 percent.  About 95 percent of both foreign- and native-born fathers
with children under 3 were in the labor force.  (See table 2.)
   
   Foreign-born blacks, Asians, and Hispanics or Latinos were more likely to
be in the labor force than their native-born counterparts.  Among the for-
eign born, the labor force participation rate for whites (59.9 percent) was
lower than for blacks (74.5 percent), Asians (67.2 percent), and Hispanics
or Latinos (69.9 percent).  The lower labor force participation rate for for-
eign-born whites is due, in part, to their older age profile.  (See table 1.)
   
   The labor force participation rate of the foreign born 25 years old and
over who had not completed high school (60.9 percent) was higher than that
for their native-born counterparts (37.6 percent).  Among high school grad-
uates who did not attend college, the participation rate for the foreign
born also was higher than that for the native born.  The difference in par-
ticipation rates between the native born with a high school education or
less and their foreign-born counterparts was partly because the native born
with these levels of education tended to be older, on average, than the for-
eign born.  At the upper end of the educational scale, however, the partici-
pation rate for foreign-born college graduates was 76.5 percent, about the
same as the rate for the native born--78.5 percent.  (See table 1.)
   
   The participation rate of the foreign born without a high school diploma
was much higher than that for the native born with the same level of educa-
tion among blacks and Hispanics or Latinos.  In comparison, among college
graduates, the participation rates of foreign-born whites, Asians, and His-
panics or Latinos were lower than those of their native-born counterparts.
However, foreign-born blacks with college degrees were more likely to parti-
cipate in the labor force than their naive-born counterparts.  (See table 3.)
   
Unemployment
   
   In 2003, unemployment rates of foreign- and native-born men were about
the same--6.2 and 6.3 percent, respectively.  Among women, however,
the jobless rate of the foreign born was 7.1 percent, compared with 5.5 per-
cent for the native born.  Overall, the unemployment rates of the foreign
born in most of the major age groups tended to be higher than the rates for
the native born; the exception was 16- to 24-year olds, where the rate for the
foreign born was somewhat lower.  (See table 1.)
   
   The unemployment rates for the foreign born were higher than those for
their native-born counterparts for most levels of education.  Among those
without a high school diploma, however, the foreign born were less likely
to be unemployed than the native born.

                                  - 3 -

Occupation
   
   Foreign-born workers were concentrated in service occupations (23 percent)
and in production, transportation, and material moving ccupations (18 per-
cent) in 2003.  By way of comparison, the proportions of native-born workers
employed in these occupations were 15 and 12 percent, respectively.  In 2003,
17 and 10 percent, respectively, of foreign-born workers were employed in
professional and related occupations and in management, business, and finan-
cial operations occupations, compared with proportions of 21 and 15 percent
for the native born.  (See table 4.)
   
   Foreign-born men were more likely than native-born men to be employed in
service; natural resources, construction, and maintenance; and production,
transportation, and material moving occupations.  Compared with native-born
women, foreign-born women were more likely to be employed in service and in
production, transportation, and material moving occupations.  Both foreign-
born men and women workers were less likely to be employed in professional
and related occupations and in sales and office occupations than their na-
tive-born counterparts.
   
Earnings
   
   In 2003, the median usual weekly earnings of foreign-born full-time wage
and salary workers were $489 compared with $643 for the native born.  Among
the men, the median earnings for the foreign born were $503 per week, com-
pared with $732 for the native born.  Similarly, the median for foreign-born
women was $459, compared with $567 for the native born.  As with the native
born, the earnings of the foreign born increased with education.  The for-
eign born age 25 and over with less than a high school education earned $369
per week in 2003, while the earnings of those with college degrees were more
than twice as much--$909 a week.  (See table 5.)





                                  - 4 - 

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 sur-
vey 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 paren-
tal 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 de-
cennial 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 Naturaliza-
tion Service).
   
   In January 2003, the Census Bureau introduced a large upward adjustment
to the population controls for the CPS as part of its annual update of popu-
lation estimates.  This adjustment increased estimates for all population
and labor force categories.  Consequently, estimated levels for 2003 are not
strictly comparable with those for 2002.  The upward adjustments in labor
force levels, however, had only negligible effects on ratios such as the la-
bor force participation rate and the employment-population ratio.  In addi-
tion, there were several other significant changes introduced into the CPS
in January 2003 that affected the data presented in this release.  For a de-
tailed discussion of these changes, see "Revisions to the Current Population
Survey Effective in January 2003" in the February 2003 issue of Employment
and Earnings and available at http://www.bls.gov/cps/rvcps03.pdf on the BLS
Web site.
   
   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 de-
pending 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 sam-
pling error.  BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of
confidence.

                                  - 5 -
   
   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 infor-
mation, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.
   
   For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and informa-
tion 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 in-
cludes legally-admitted immigrants, refugees, temporary residents such as
students and temporary workers, and undocumented immigrants.
   
   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 La-
tino 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 re-
lease 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 la-
bor 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.

                                  - 6 -

   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 re-
ceived (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders).  Earnings re-
ported 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, 
2002-03 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                         
                                                        2002                                                 2003                        
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                         
                                                     Civilian labor force                                 Civilian labor force           
                                Civilian                                             Civilian                                            
         Characteristic         noninsti-                                            noninsti-                                           
                                tutional                               Unemployed    tutional                             Unemployed   
                                 popula-         Partici-                             popula-         Partici-                           
                                  tion    Total   pation  Employed                     tion    Total   pation  Employed                  
                                                   rate                       Unem-                     rate                    Unem- 
                                                                    Number    ploy-                                     Number  ploy- 
                                                                              ment                                              ment  
                                                                              rate                                              rate  
                                                                                                                                       
          FOREIGN BORN                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                       
    Total 16 years and over....   30,096  20,279    67.4    18,998    1,281     6.3    31,331  21,117    67.4    19,731  1,385   6.6 
  Men..........................   15,049  12,102    80.4    11,401      702     5.8    15,669  12,634    80.6    11,850    784   6.2 
  Women........................   15,047   8,177    54.3     7,598      579     7.1    15,662   8,482    54.2     7,881    601   7.1 
                                                                                                                                     
               Age                                                                                                                   

  16 to 24 years...............    4,200   2,558    60.9     2,298      260    10.2     4,135   2,456    59.4     2,203    252  10.3
  25 to 34 years...............    7,366   5,664    76.9     5,312      352     6.2     7,784   5,925    76.1     5,551    375   6.3 
  35 to 44 years...............    7,085   5,739    81.0     5,420      319     5.6     7,450   6,026    80.9     5,673    353   5.9 
  45 to 54 years...............    4,993   3,980    79.7     3,762      218     5.5     5,245   4,200    80.1     3,935    264   6.3 
  55 to 64 years...............    3,052   1,890    61.9     1,781      108     5.7     3,195   2,016    63.1     1,903    113   5.6 
  65 years and over............    3,400     448    13.2       425       23     5.2     3,521     494    14.0       465     28   5.8 
                                                                                                                                     
       Race and Hispanic                                                                                                             
     or Latino ethnicity (1)                                                                                                         

  White non-Hispanic or 
     Latino (2)................    6,890   4,086    59.3     3,856      230     5.6     7,128   4,267    59.9     4,048    219   5.1 
  Black non-Hispanic or                                                                                                        
     Latino (2)................    2,189   1,613    73.7     1,494      119     7.4     2,391   1,782    74.5     1,631    152   8.5 
  Asian non-Hispanic or                                                                                                        
     Latino (2)................    7,261   4,913    67.7     4,647      267     5.4     6,867   4,613    67.2     4,324    289   6.3 
  Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.   13,667   9,605    70.3     8,943      662     6.9    14,627  10,226    69.9     9,513    713   7.0 
                                                                                                                                     
     Educational attainment                                                                                                          

     Total, 25 years and over..   25,895  17,721    68.4    16,701    1,020     5.8    27,196  18,661    68.6    17,528  1,133   6.1
  Less than a high school                                                                                                            
     diploma...................    8,288   5,025    60.6     4,661      364     7.2     8,823   5,376    60.9     4,949    427   7.9 
  High school graduates, no                                                                                                          
     college (3)...............    6,440   4,275    66.4     4,034      240     5.6     6,778   4,596    67.8     4,335    261   5.7 
  Some college or associate                                                                                                          
     degree....................    4,069   2,961    72.8     2,775      186     6.3     4,147   2,991    72.1     2,811    180   6.0 
  Bachelor's degree and                                                                                                        
    higher (4).................    7,099   5,461    76.9     5,231      230     4.2     7,447   5,698    76.5     5,433    265   4.7 
                                                                                                                                     
           NATIVE BORN                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                     
    Total 16 years and over....  187,474 124,584    66.5   117,487    7,097     5.7   189,837 125,393    66.1   118,005  7,389   5.9 
  Men..........................   89,536  65,397    73.0    61,502    3,895     6.0    90,766  65,603    72.3    61,481  4,122   6.3 
  Women........................   97,938  59,186    60.4    55,984    3,202     5.4    99,072  59,790    60.4    56,523  3,267   5.5 
                                                                                                                                     
               Age                                                                                                                   

  16 to 24 years...............   31,142  19,808    63.6    17,385    2,423    12.2    31,762  19,642    61.8    17,148  2,494  12.7
  25 to 34 years...............   31,106  26,532    85.3    24,994    1,538     5.8    31,237  26,418    84.6    24,832  1,585   6.0 
  35 to 44 years...............   36,809  31,187    84.7    29,815    1,372     4.4    36,296  30,669    84.5    29,207  1,462   4.8 
  45 to 54 years...............   34,718  28,617    82.4    27,519    1,097     3.8    35,277  29,071    82.4    27,979  1,092   3.8 
  55 to 64 years...............   23,291  14,420    61.9    13,893      527     3.7    24,533  15,296    62.3    14,696    600   3.9 
  65 years and over............   30,408   4,020    13.2     3,881      140     3.5    30,733   4,298    14.0     4,143    155   3.6 
                                                                                                                                     
       Race and Hispanic                                                                                                             
     or Latino ethnicity (1)                                                                                                         

  White non-Hispanic or 
     Latino (2)................  148,567  99,263    66.8    94,605    4,658     4.7   148,569  98,833    66.5    94,057  4,776   4.8 
  Black non-Hispanic or                                                                                                       
     Latino (2)................   22,432  14,312    63.8    12,803    1,509    10.5    22,484  14,215    63.2    12,644  1,571  11.1 
  Asian non-Hispanic or                                                                                                        
     Latino (2)................    2,335   1,527    65.4     1,416      110     7.2     2,228   1,414    63.5     1,342     73   5.1 
  Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.   12,296   8,338    67.8     7,647      691     8.3    12,924   8,587    66.4     7,859    727   8.5 
                                                                                                                                     
     Educational attainment                                                                                                          

     Total, 25 years and over..  156,332 104,776    67.0   100,102    4,674     4.5   158,075 105,751    66.9   100,857  4,894   4.6
  Less than a high school
     diploma...................   20,094   7,574    37.7     6,874      700     9.2    19,333   7,271    37.6     6,588    682   9.4 
  High school graduates, no                                                                                                          
     college (3)...............   52,421  33,489    63.9    31,744    1,745     5.2    52,701  33,330    63.2    31,522  1,808   5.4 
  Some college or associate                                                                                                          
     degree....................   41,899  30,656    73.2    29,319    1,337     4.4    42,594  31,058    72.9    29,609  1,449   4.7 
  Bachelor's degree and higher                                                                                                       
     higher (4)................   41,918  33,057    78.9    32,165      892     2.7    43,447  34,093    78.5    33,138    955   2.8 

  1 Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
  2 Beginning in 2003, includes persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group are not
included.  Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they identified as their main
race.  Asian data for 2002 include Pacific Islanders.
  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 2003, estimated levels for 2003 are not strictly
comparable with those for 2002.  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, 2002-03 annual averages
  
  (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                                                        2002                          2003            
               Characteristic                                                                         
                                                                                                      
                                             Total      Men      Women     Total      Men      Women  
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                FOREIGN BORN                                                                          
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 18                                                                   

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   11,752     5,568     6,184    12,520     5,985     6,534
    Civilian labor force..................    8,921     5,200     3,721     9,488     5,593     3,895 
        Participation rate................     75.9      93.4      60.2      75.8      93.4      59.6 
      Employed............................    8,393     4,949     3,444     8,896     5,284     3,611 
        Employment-population ratio.......     71.4      88.9      55.7      71.1      88.3      55.3 
      Unemployed..........................      528       251       277       592       309       283 
        Unemployment rate.................      5.9       4.8       7.4       6.2       5.5       7.3 
                                                                                                      
  With own children 6 to 17, none younger                                                             

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    5,836     2,705     3,131     6,253     2,893     3,360
    Civilian labor force..................    4,646     2,486     2,160     4,975     2,663     2,313 
        Participation rate................     79.6      91.9      69.0      79.6      92.0      68.8 
      Employed............................    4,401     2,379     2,022     4,688     2,516     2,172 
        Employment-population ratio.......     75.4      88.0      64.6      75.0      87.0      64.7 
      Unemployed..........................      245       107       138       287       147       140 
        Unemployment rate.................      5.3       4.3       6.4       5.8       5.5       6.1 
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 6                                                                    

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    5,916     2,863     3,053     6,267     3,092     3,174
    Civilian labor force..................    4,275     2,714     1,561     4,513     2,930     1,582 
        Participation rate................     72.3      94.8      51.1      72.0      94.8      49.8 
      Employed............................    3,992     2,570     1,422     4,208     2,769     1,439 
        Employment-population ratio.......     67.5      89.8      46.6      67.1      89.5      45.3 
      Unemployed..........................      283       144       139       305       162       143 
        Unemployment rate.................      6.6       5.3       8.9       6.8       5.5       9.0 
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 3                                                                    

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    3,512     1,722     1,790     3,740     1,878     1,862
    Civilian labor force..................    2,466     1,636       830     2,618     1,786       832 
        Participation rate................     70.2      95.0      46.4      70.0      95.1      44.7 
      Employed............................    2,294     1,543       751     2,450     1,693       757 
        Employment-population ratio.......     65.3      89.6      41.9      65.5      90.2      40.6 
      Unemployed..........................      172        92        80       168        93        75 
        Unemployment rate.................      7.0       5.7       9.6       6.4       5.2       9.0 
                                                                                                      
       With no own children under 18                                                                  

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   18,344     9,481     8,862    18,811     9,684     9,127
    Civilian labor force..................   11,358     6,902     4,456    11,629     7,041     4,588 
        Participation rate................     61.9      72.8      50.3      61.8      72.7      50.3 
      Employed............................   10,605     6,452     4,154    10,836     6,566     4,270 
        Employment-population ratio.......     57.8      68.0      46.9      57.6      67.8      46.8 
      Unemployed..........................      753       450       302       793       475       318 
        Unemployment rate.................      6.6       6.5       6.8       6.8       6.8       6.9 
                                                                                                      
                NATIVE BORN                                                                           
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 18                                                                   

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   53,574    23,583    29,991    53,492    23,593    29,899
    Civilian labor force..................   44,537    22,297    22,241    44,271    22,261    22,010 
        Participation rate................     83.1      94.5      74.2      82.8      94.4      73.6 
      Employed............................   42,488    21,453    21,034    42,196    21,421    20,774 
        Employment-population ratio.......     79.3      91.0      70.1      78.9      90.8      69.5 
      Unemployed..........................    2,050       843     1,206     2,075       839     1,236 
        Unemployment rate.................      4.6       3.8       5.4       4.7       3.8       5.6 
                                                                                                      
  With own children 6 to 17, none younger                                                             

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   30,389    13,358    17,031    30,167    13,334    16,833
    Civilian labor force..................   26,108    12,513    13,596    25,839    12,444    13,394 
        Participation rate................     85.9      93.7      79.8      85.7      93.3      79.6 
      Employed............................   25,091    12,084    13,007    24,784    12,004    12,780 
        Employment-population ratio.......     82.6      90.5      76.4      82.2      90.0      75.9 
      Unemployed..........................    1,018       429       589     1,054       440       614 
        Unemployment rate.................      3.9       3.4       4.3       4.1       3.5       4.6 
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 6                                                                    

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   23,185    10,225    12,960    23,324    10,259    13,065
    Civilian labor force..................   18,429     9,784     8,645    18,432     9,816     8,616 
        Participation rate................     79.5      95.7      66.7      79.0      95.7      65.9 
      Employed............................   17,397     9,370     8,027    17,411     9,417     7,994 
        Employment-population ratio.......     75.0      91.6      61.9      74.6      91.8      61.2 
      Unemployed..........................    1,032       414       618     1,021       399       621 
        Unemployment rate.................      5.6       4.2       7.1       5.5       4.1       7.2 
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 3                                                                    

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   13,648     6,087     7,561    13,625     6,037     7,588
    Civilian labor force..................   10,653     5,851     4,801    10,518     5,787     4,731 
        Participation rate................     78.1      96.1      63.5      77.2      95.9      62.3 
      Employed............................   10,032     5,602     4,430     9,900     5,541     4,359 
        Employment-population ratio.......     73.5      92.0      58.6      72.7      91.8      57.4 
      Unemployed..........................      621       250       371       617       245       372 
        Unemployment rate.................      5.8       4.3       7.7       5.9       4.2       7.9 
                                                                                                      
       With no own children under 18                                                                  

  Civilian noninstitutional population....  133,900    65,953    67,947   136,346    67,173    69,173
    Civilian labor force..................   80,046    43,101    36,946    81,123    43,343    37,780 
        Participation rate................     59.8      65.4      54.4      59.5      64.5      54.6 
      Employed............................   74,999    40,049    34,950    75,809    40,060    35,749 
        Employment-population ratio.......     56.0      60.7      51.4      55.6      59.6      51.7 
      Unemployed..........................    5,047     3,052     1,996     5,314     3,283     2,031 
        Unemployment rate.................      6.3       7.1       5.4       6.6       7.6       5.4 

      NOTE:  Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2003, estimated levels
  for 2003 are not strictly comparable with those for 2002.  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, 2002-03 annual averages
  
  (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                              2002                                      2003                  
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
               Characteristic              Less than    High       Some              Less than    High       Some             
                                             a high    school    college  Bachelor's   a high    school    college  Bachelor's
                                             school  graduates,     or    degree and   school  graduates,     or    degree and
                                            diploma  no college associate higher (2)  diploma  no college associate higher (2)
                                                         (1)      degree                           (1)      degree            
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                FOREIGN BORN                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
      White non-Hispanic or Latino (3)                                                                                        

  Civilian noninstitutional population....      971     1,817      1,202     2,313        910     1,857      1,238     2,506
    Civilian labor force..................      344       982        748     1,681        291     1,029        772     1,825  
        Participation rate................     35.4      54.0       62.2      72.7       32.0      55.4       62.4      72.8  
      Employed............................      325       927        699     1,605        274       978        730     1,749  
        Employment-population ratio.......     33.4      51.0       58.2      69.4       30.1      52.6       59.0      69.8  
      Unemployed..........................       19        55         48        76         17        51         42        76  
        Unemployment rate.................      5.6       5.6        6.5       4.5        6.0       5.0        5.5       4.2  
                                                                                                                              
      Black non-Hispanic or Latino (3)                                                                                        

  Civilian noninstitutional population....      382       536        441       483        366       629        477       564
    Civilian labor force..................      242       397        372       419        223       494        393       490  
        Participation rate................     63.3      74.2       84.3      86.8       60.9      78.5       82.2      86.9  
      Employed............................      216       374        346       400        195       458        361       458  
        Employment-population ratio.......     56.6      69.9       78.5      82.8       53.3      72.9       75.7      81.2  
      Unemployed..........................       26        23         26        19         28        35         31        32  
        Unemployment rate.................     10.6       5.8        6.9       4.6       12.5       7.1        7.9       6.6  
                                                                                                                              
      Asian non-Hispanic or Latino (3)                                                                                        

  Civilian noninstitutional population....      906     1,329      1,052     3,157        867     1,304        932     3,033
    Civilian labor force..................      418       883        765     2,449        405       863        675     2,321  
        Participation rate................     46.2      66.4       72.7      77.6       46.7      66.2       72.4      76.5  
      Employed............................      383       837        718     2,354        366       811        628     2,211  
        Employment-population ratio.......     42.3      63.0       68.2      74.6       42.2      62.2       67.3      72.9  
      Unemployed..........................       35        46         47        96         39        51         47       110  
        Unemployment rate.................      8.4       5.2        6.2       3.9        9.7       6.0        7.0       4.7  
                                                                                                                              
        Hispanic or Latino ethnicity                                                                                          

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    6,021     2,735      1,351     1,123      6,645     2,916      1,428     1,247
    Civilian labor force..................    4,018     1,995      1,062       891      4,436     2,160      1,093       983  
        Participation rate................     66.7      72.9       78.6      79.3       66.8      74.1       76.6      78.9  
      Employed............................    3,735     1,879        997       853      4,095     2,040      1,036       940  
        Employment-population ratio.......     62.0      68.7       73.8      75.9       61.6      70.0       72.6      75.4  
      Unemployed..........................      284       116         65        38        341       120         58        44  
        Unemployment rate.................      7.1       5.8        6.1       4.3        7.7       5.6        5.3       4.4  
                                                                                                                              
                NATIVE BORN                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                              

      White non-Hispanic or Latino (3)

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   13,708    42,308     33,828    36,975     13,010    42,044     33,809    37,843
    Civilian labor force..................    4,949    26,440     24,356    28,946      4,713    26,005     24,276    29,493  
        Participation rate................     36.1      62.5       72.0      78.3       36.2      61.9       71.8      77.9  
      Employed............................    4,570    25,263     23,412    28,210      4,348    24,811     23,312    28,708  
        Employment-population ratio.......     33.3      59.7       69.2      76.3       33.4      59.0       69.0      75.9  
      Unemployed..........................      379     1,177        944       736        365     1,194        965       786  
        Unemployment rate.................      7.7       4.5        3.9       2.5        7.7       4.6        4.0       2.7  
                                                                                                                              
      Black non-Hispanic or Latino (3)                                                                                        

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    3,606     6,359      5,005     2,848      3,448     6,410      5,001     3,022
    Civilian labor force..................    1,349     4,303      3,864     2,338      1,267     4,292      3,820     2,458  
        Participation rate................     37.4      67.7       77.2      82.1       36.8      67.0       76.4      81.3  
      Employed............................    1,159     3,912      3,607     2,242      1,088     3,878      3,521     2,364  
        Employment-population ratio.......     32.1      61.5       72.1      78.7       31.6      60.5       70.4      78.2  
      Unemployed..........................      191       391        257        96        179       414        298        95  
        Unemployment rate.................     14.1       9.1        6.6       4.1       14.1       9.6        7.8       3.9  
                                                                                                                              
      Asian non-Hispanic or Latino (3)                                                                                        

  Civilian noninstitutional population....       85       337        409       645        132       294        358       755
    Civilian labor force..................       30       216        311       528         50       174        251       611  
        Participation rate................     35.3      64.2       76.0      81.8       38.0      59.0       70.2      81.0  
      Employed............................       27       204        292       507         46       167        243       593  
        Employment-population ratio.......     32.2      60.6       71.5      78.6       34.7      56.8       68.0      78.6  
      Unemployed..........................        3        12         18        21          4         7          8        18  
        Unemployment rate.................      8.8       5.5        5.9       4.0        8.8       3.8        3.1       3.0  
                                                                                                                              
        Hispanic or Latino ethnicity                                                                                          

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    2,365     2,887      2,218     1,248      2,324     3,078      2,487     1,350
    Civilian labor force..................    1,123     2,172      1,818     1,083      1,088     2,270      2,008     1,142  
        Participation rate................     47.5      75.2       82.0      86.8       46.8      73.7       80.7      84.6  
      Employed............................    1,010     2,041      1,726     1,054        977     2,129      1,890     1,099  
        Employment-population ratio.......     42.7      70.7       77.8      84.4       42.1      69.1       76.0      81.4  
      Unemployed..........................      113       131         92        29        110       141        118        43  
        Unemployment rate.................     10.1       6.0        5.1       2.7       10.2       6.2        5.9       3.8  

    1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
    2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
    3 Beginning in 2003, includes persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group are
  not included.  Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they identified as
  their main race.  Asian data for 2002 include Pacific Islanders.
    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 2003, estimated levels for 2003 are not strictly comparable with
  those for 2002.  See the Technical Note for further information.










  Table 4.  Employed foreign-born and native-born persons 16 years and over by occupation and sex, 
  2003 annual averages
  
  (Percent distribution)
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                   Foreign born                  Native born         
                        Occupation                                                                                   
                                                                                                                     
                                                            Total      Men       Women    Total      Men      Women  
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
      Total employed (thousands).........................   19,731    11,850     7,881   118,005    61,481    56,523 
      Percent............................................    100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0 
                                                                                                                     
  Management, professional, and related occupations......     26.3      24.8      28.7      36.2      33.8      38.8 
    Management, business, and financial operations                                                                   
     occupations.........................................      9.6       9.9       9.1      15.3      16.9      13.6 
      Management occupations.............................      6.8       7.8       5.2      11.1      13.3       8.8 
      Business and financial operations occupations......      2.8       2.1       3.9       4.2       3.6       4.8 
    Professional and related occupations.................     16.8      14.9      19.5      20.9      17.0      25.2 
      Computer and mathematical occupations..............      3.0       3.6       2.0       2.2       2.9       1.3 
      Architecture and engineering occupations...........      2.0       2.9        .7       2.0       3.2        .6 
      Life, physical, and social science occupations.....      1.2       1.2       1.3       1.0       1.0        .9 
      Community and social services occupations..........      1.0        .7       1.3       1.7       1.3       2.2 
      Legal occupations..................................       .4        .4        .4       1.2       1.2       1.2 
      Education, training, and library occupations.......      3.3       2.0       5.1       6.0       2.9       9.4 
      Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media                                                                 
       occupations.......................................      1.5       1.4       1.6       2.0       2.0       2.0 
      Healthcare practitioner and technical                                                                          
       occupations.......................................      4.5       2.6       7.2       4.9       2.3       7.7 
                                                                                                                     
  Service occupations....................................     22.9      18.2      29.9      14.9      11.9      18.2 
    Healthcare support occupations.......................      2.5        .5       5.6       2.1        .4       3.9 
    Protective service occupations.......................       .8       1.1        .5       2.2       3.3        .9 
    Food preparation and serving related occupations.....      8.0       8.1       7.8       4.8       3.6       6.2 
    Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance                                                                    
     occupations.........................................      8.1       7.2       9.4       2.8       3.4       2.3 
    Personal care and service occupations................      3.4       1.2       6.6       3.0       1.3       4.9 
                                                                                                                     
  Sales and office occupations...........................     18.4      13.3      26.0      27.0      18.3      36.4 
    Sales and related occupations........................      9.4       8.2      11.3      11.9      11.7      12.3 
    Office and administrative support occupations........      9.0       5.2      14.7      15.1       6.7      24.2 
                                                                                                                     
  Natural resources, construction, and maintenance                                                                   
     occupations.........................................     14.1      22.2       2.0       9.7      17.7        .9 
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...........      2.1       2.6       1.3        .5        .8        .2 
    Construction and extraction occupations..............      9.0      14.7        .4       5.4      10.0        .3 
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations....      3.1       4.9        .3       3.8       6.9        .3 
                                                                                                                     
  Production, transportation, and material moving                                                                    
     occupations.........................................     18.3      21.5      13.4      12.2      18.2       5.7 
    Production occupations...............................     11.3      11.9      10.5       6.3       8.6       3.9 
    Transportation and material moving occupations.......      7.0       9.7       2.9       5.9       9.6       1.8 

      NOTE:  Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2003, estimated levels for 2003 are
  not strictly comparable with those for 2002.  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, 2002-03 annual averages
 
 (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                         2002                                         2003                    
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                        Foreign born      Native born    Earnings    Foreign born      Native born    Earnings
                                                                            of                                           of   
           Characteristic                                                 foreign                                      foreign
                                                                          born as                                      born as
                                               Median            Median   percent           Median            Median   percent
                                       Number  weekly    Number  weekly     of      Number  weekly    Number  weekly     of   
                                              earnings          earnings  native           earnings          earnings  native 
                                                                           born                                         born  
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
   Total, 16 years and over.........   14,759   $478     85,322   $627      76.3    15,227   $489     85,076   $643      76.0 
 Men................................    9,265    497     47,079    716      69.4     9,666    503     46,560    732      68.7 
 Women..............................    5,494    437     38,243    547      79.9     5,560    459     38,516    567      80.8 
                                                                                                                              
                 Age                                                                                                          
 16 to 24 years.....................    1,665    337      9,456    389      86.5     1,512    345      9,278    393      87.7 
 25 to 34 years.....................    4,397    468     20,387    610      76.7     4,642    466     20,134    615      75.8 
 35 to 44 years.....................    4,354    524     23,271    693      75.5     4,493    522     22,602    716      72.8 
 45 to 54 years.....................    2,827    527     21,261    729      72.3     2,984    567     21,461    742      76.4 
 55 to 64 years.....................    1,302    518      9,595    696      74.5     1,355    600     10,084    725      82.8 
 65 years and over..................      214    457      1,351    509      89.8       241    500      1,516    518      96.6 
                                                                                                                              
     Race and Hispanic or Latino                                                                                              
           ethnicity (1)                                                                                                      
 White non-Hispanic or Latino (2)...    2,783    660     67,206    666      99.1     2,863    681     66,371    683      99.7 
 Black non-Hispanic or Latino (2)...    1,207    494     10,451    500      98.8     1,266    515     10,258    515      99.8 
 Asian non-Hispanic or Latino (2)...    3,525    660        968    683      96.6     3,250    689        991    732      94.0 
 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.......    7,203    384      5,934    508      75.6     7,690    398      5,944    523      76.1 
                                                                                                                              
       Educational attainment                                                                                                 
    Total, 25 years and over........   13,095    503     75,866    670      75.1    13,715    511     75,798    688      74.2 
 Less than a high school diploma....    3,691    361      4,829    412      87.6     4,034    369      4,559    430      86.0 
 High school graduates,                                                                                                       
    no college (3)..................    3,177    444     23,940    552      80.5     3,359    467     23,724    569      82.1 
 Some college.......................    2,155    553     22,440    638      86.6     2,135    576     22,475    647      89.0 
 Bachelor's degree and higher (4)...    4,072    891     24,656    948      94.0     4,186    909     25,040    971      93.6 

   1 Data for race/ethnicity groups do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
   2 Beginning in 2003, includes persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group are
 not included.  Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they identified as
 their main race.  Asian data for 2002 include Pacific Islanders.
   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 2003, estimated levels for 2003 are not strictly
 comparable with those for 2002.  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, 
2002-03 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
                                               2002                                                        2003                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
                                            Civilian labor force                                        Civilian labor force              
 Census regions                                                                                                                          
  and divisions    Civilian                                                    Civilian                                                   
                   noninsti-                                    Unemployed     noninsti-                                  Unemployed    
                   tutional            Partici-                                tutional             Partici-                               
                    popula-     Total   pation    Employed              Unem-   popula-     Total    pation   Employed
                     tion                rate                 Number    ploy-    tion                 rate               Number  Unem-    
                                                                        ment                                                     ploy-    
                                                                        rate                                                     ment     
                                                                                                                                 rate     
    FOREIGN BORN                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
  Northeast.......    6,952     4,594     66.1      4,318       276      6.0      6,936     4,577     66.0      4,275      301   6.6  
    New England...    1,325       918     69.3        868        50      5.4      1,334       920     68.9        856       63   6.9  
    Middle                                                                                                                                
     Atlantic.....    5,627     3,676     65.3      3,449       226      6.2      5,601     3,657     65.3      3,419      238   6.5  
                                                                                                                                          
  South...........    8,553     5,800     67.8      5,447       353      6.1      9,158     6,305     68.8      5,932      373   5.9  
    South                                                                                                                                 
     Atlantic.....    5,047     3,436     68.1      3,228       209      6.1      5,442     3,753     69.0      3,545      208   5.5  
    East South                                                                                                                            
     Central......      386       265     68.6        255        10      3.6        389       275     70.7        262       12   4.5  
    West South                                                                                                                            
     Central......    3,120     2,099     67.3      1,964       135      6.4      3,327     2,277     68.5      2,125      153   6.7  
                                                                                                                                          
  Midwest.........    3,379     2,343     69.3      2,196       147      6.3      3,504     2,404     68.6      2,235      169   7.0  
    East North                                                                                                                            
     Central......    2,641     1,807     68.4      1,690       117      6.5      2,683     1,814     67.6      1,688      126   6.9  
    West North                                                                                                                            
     Central......      738       536     72.7        506        30      5.6        820       589     71.8        546       43   7.3  
                                                                                                                                          
  West............   11,212     7,543     67.3      7,038       505      6.7     11,733     7,831     66.7      7,290      542   6.9  
    Mountain......    1,868     1,290     69.1      1,211        79      6.1      1,835     1,287     70.2      1,210       77   6.0  
    Pacific.......    9,344     6,253     66.9      5,827       426      6.8      9,899     6,544     66.1      6,079      465   7.1  
                                                                                                                                          
    NATIVE BORN                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
  Northeast.......   35,481    23,257     65.5     21,969     1,288      5.5     35,685    23,066     64.6     21,754    1,312   5.7  
    New England...    9,862     6,753     68.5      6,432       322      4.8      9,809     6,670     68.0      6,321      348   5.2  
    Middle                                                                                                                                
     Atlantic.....   25,619    16,504     64.4     15,537       966      5.9     25,876    16,396     63.4     15,433      964   5.9  
                                                                                                                                          
  South...........   68,150    44,173     64.8     41,719     2,454      5.6     69,398    44,841     64.6     42,265    2,576   5.7  
    South                                                                                                                                 
     Atlantic.....   35,189    22,893     65.1     21,694     1,199      5.2     35,584    23,041     64.8     21,850    1,191   5.2  
    East South                                                                                                                            
     Central......   12,619     7,908     62.7      7,452       456      5.8     12,890     8,077     62.7      7,591      487   6.0  
    West South                                                                                                                            
     Central......   20,343    13,373     65.7     12,574       799      6.0     20,924    13,723     65.6     12,824      899   6.5  
                                                                                                                                          
  Midwest.........   47,049    32,349     68.8     30,586     1,763      5.5     46,720    32,088     68.7     30,221    1,867   5.8  
    East North                                                                                                                            
     Central......   32,789    22,080     67.3     20,784     1,296      5.9     32,487    21,877     67.3     20,504    1,374   6.3  
    West North                                                                                                                            
     Central......   14,260    10,268     72.0      9,801       467      4.5     14,233    10,210     71.7      9,717      493   4.8  
                                                                                                                                          
  West............   36,793    24,804     67.4     23,213     1,592      6.4     38,034    25,398     66.8     23,765    1,634   6.4  
    Mountain......   12,107     8,293     68.5      7,820       473      5.7     12,477     8,471     67.9      7,996      475   5.6  
    Pacific.......   24,686    16,512     66.9     15,393     1,119      6.8     25,557    16,928     66.2     15,769    1,159   6.8  

  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 2003, estimated levels for 2003 are not strictly
comparable with those for 2002.  See the Technical Note for further information.