Technical information:      (202) 691-6378      USDL 05-834
                   http://www.bls.gov/cps/
                                                For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                    691-5902      Thusrday, May 12, 2005


        LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS OF FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS IN 2004
                                     
                                     
   The unemployment rate for the foreign born fell to 5.5 percent in
2004, down from 6.6 percent in the prior year, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The job-
less rate of the native born also fell to 5.5 percent in 2004, declin-
ing from 5.9 percent in the previous year.
   
   This news release compares the labor force characteristics of the
foreign born with those of their native-born 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 out-
side the country or one of its outlying areas to parents who were not
U.S. citizens.  For further information about the survey, see the
Technical Note.
   
Labor Force and Unemployment

   In 2004, there were 21.4 million foreign-born persons in the United
States labor force, comprising 14.5 percent of the total.  (See table 1.)
From 2002 to 2004, the number of foreign-born labor force participants
grew by about 1.2 million on net and accounted for a little less than half
of total labor force growth over the same period.  
   
   A little over two-thirds of foreign-born persons 16 years and over were
in the labor force in 2004, about the same proportion as in the previous
2 years.  Over the year, the labor force participation rate for the native
born edged down from 66.1 to 65.7 percent.
   
   Foreign-born men were more likely to be labor force participants
(81.1 percent) than their native-born counterparts (72.0 percent).  In
contrast, foreign-born women were less likely to be labor force partici-
pants than native-born women--53.8 versus 60.0 percent.  Over the year,
the labor force participation rates of both men and women were about
unchanged for the foreign born, while they edged down for their native-
born counterparts.
   
   Among the major race/ethnic groups, labor force participation of
foreign-born non-Hispanic blacks edged down over the year.  Among the
native born, labor force participation declined for non-Hispanic Asians,
but edged up for Hispanics or Latinos.  (See tables 1 and 3.)
   
   The labor force participation rate for foreign-born women with
children under 18 was 58.4 percent in 2004, compared with 73.0 percent
for native-born mothers.  Participation rates for both groups were down
from the prior year--by 1.2 and 0.6 percentage points, respectively.  About
94 percent of both foreign-born and native-born fathers with children
under 18 were in the labor force in 2004.  (See table 2.)
   
   The over-the-year decline in the unemployment rate of foreign-born
workers--from 6.6 percent in 2003 to 5.5 percent in 2004--reflected
declines in the rates for both men and women.  The unemployment rate for
foreign-born men fell from 6.2 to 5.0 percent, and the rate for
foreign-born women declined from 7.1 to 6.3 percent.  Among the native
born, the unemployment rate for men declined from 6.3 percent in 2003 to
5.8 percent in 2004, while the rate for women was little changed.  (See
table 1.)

                                  - 2 -

Occupation

   The largest group of foreign-born workers was employed in management,
professional, and related occupations (26.5 percent) in 2004.  This was
also the case for native-born workers, with 36.3 percent of them employed
in this occupational category.  An additional 22.8 percent of foreign-born
workers were employed in service occupations and 18.4 percent were in sales
and office occupations, as were 15.2 and 26.7 percent, respectively, of the
native-born workers.  (See table 4.)
   
   Reflecting the downward trend in manufacturing employment as a whole,
the proportions of both foreign-born and native-born workers employed in
production, transportation, and material moving occupations declined from
2000 to 2004.  In 2000, 20.4 percent of foreign-born and 13.8 percent of
native-born workers were employed in these occupations.  In 2004, the pro-
portions were 17.5 percent for the foreign born and 12.1 percent for the
native born.
   
Earnings

   In 2004, the median usual weekly earnings of foreign-born full-time
wage and salary workers ($502), were 75.6 percent of those of their
native-born counterparts ($664).  The earnings of foreign-born men
($518) were 69.1 percent of those of native-born men ($749), while
foreign-born women had earnings ($473) that were 81.0 percent of those
of native-born women ($585).  While earnings for both the foreign-born
and native-born groups rose over the year, the increase was relatively
smaller for the foreign born (2.7 percent) than for their native-born
counterparts (3.3 percent).  The foreign-to-native-born earnings gap
is narrower at higher education levels.  For example, the median usual
weekly earnings of foreign-born full time wage and salary workers with
a bachelor's degree or higher ($943) were 94.9 percent of those of their
native-born counterparts ($994) in 2004.  (See table 5.)
   



                                  - 3 - 

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).
   
   The foreign- and native-born data for 2004 are not strictly comparable 
with data for 2003 and earlier years because of the introduction in January 
2004 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 2003 employment level by 409,000 
and the unemployment level by 27,000.  The updated controls had little or
no effect on unemployment rates and other ratios.  For additional informa-
tion, see "Adjustments to Household Survey Population Estimates in January
2004" in the February 2004 issue of Employment and Earnings, available on
the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps04adj.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 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.                       
   
   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.

                                  - 4 -

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.
  
   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, 
  2003-04 annual averages
  
  (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                             
                                                            2003                                                 2004                        
                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                             
                                                         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                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                             
                TOTAL                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                             
      Total 16 years and over......  221,168 146,510    66.2   137,736    8,774     6.0   223,357 147,401    66.0   139,252    8,149     5.5 
    Men............................  106,435  78,238    73.5    73,332    4,906     6.3   107,710  78,980    73.3    74,524    4,456     5.6 
    Women..........................  114,733  68,272    59.5    64,404    3,868     5.7   115,647  68,421    59.2    64,728    3,694     5.4 
                                                                                                                                             
            FOREIGN BORN                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                             
      Total 16 years and over......   31,331  21,117    67.4    19,731    1,385     6.6    31,763  21,433    67.5    20,255    1,178     5.5 
    Men............................   15,669  12,634    80.6    11,850      784     6.2    15,913  12,905    81.1    12,263      642     5.0 
    Women..........................   15,662   8,482    54.2     7,881      601     7.1    15,849   8,528    53.8     7,992      536     6.3 
                                                                                                                                             
                 Age

    16 to 24 years.................    4,135   2,456    59.4     2,203      252    10.3     4,191   2,497    59.6     2,278      219     8.8 
    25 to 34 years.................    7,784   5,925    76.1     5,551      375     6.3     7,821   5,988    76.6     5,670      318     5.3 
    35 to 44 years.................    7,450   6,026    80.9     5,673      353     5.9     7,481   6,085    81.3     5,787      298     4.9 
    45 to 54 years.................    5,245   4,200    80.1     3,935      264     6.3     5,342   4,305    80.6     4,096      210     4.9 
    55 to 64 years.................    3,195   2,016    63.1     1,903      113     5.6     3,294   2,050    62.2     1,945      105     5.1 
    65 years and over..............    3,521     494    14.0       465       28     5.8     3,634     507    14.0       479       28     5.5 
                                                                                                                                             
         Race and Hispanic
       or Latino ethnicity (1)
                                                                                                                 
    White non-Hispanic or Latino...    7,128   4,267    59.9     4,048      219     5.1     7,141   4,282    60.0     4,088      194     4.5 
    Black non-Hispanic or Latino...    2,391   1,782    74.5     1,631      152     8.5     2,360   1,731    73.4     1,595      136     7.9 
    Asian non-Hispanic or Latino...    6,867   4,613    67.2     4,324      289     6.3     7,062   4,738    67.1     4,530      208     4.4 
    Hispanic or Latino ethnicity...   14,627  10,226    69.9     9,513      713     7.0    14,878  10,439    70.2     9,808      631     6.0 
                                                                                                                                             
       Educational attainment

       Total, 25 years and over....   27,196  18,661    68.6    17,528    1,133     6.1    27,572  18,936    68.7    17,977      959     5.1 
    Less than a high school                                                                                                                  
       diploma.....................    8,823   5,376    60.9     4,949      427     7.9     8,796   5,351    60.8     4,974      377     7.0 
    High school graduates, no                                                                                                                
       college (2).................    6,778   4,596    67.8     4,335      261     5.7     6,929   4,707    67.9     4,493      214     4.5 
    Some college or associate                                                                                                                
       degree......................    4,147   2,991    72.1     2,811      180     6.0     4,259   3,104    72.9     2,944      161     5.2 
    Bachelor's degree and                                                                                                                    
       higher (3)..................    7,447   5,698    76.5     5,433      265     4.7     7,587   5,773    76.1     5,566      207     3.6 
                                                                                                                                             
             NATIVE BORN                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                             
      Total 16 years and over......  189,837 125,393    66.1   118,005    7,389     5.9   191,594 125,968    65.7   118,997    6,971     5.5 
    Men............................   90,766  65,603    72.3    61,481    4,122     6.3    91,797  66,075    72.0    62,261    3,813     5.8 
    Women..........................   99,072  59,790    60.4    56,523    3,267     5.5    99,797  59,893    60.0    56,736    3,158     5.3 
                                                                                                                                             
                 Age

    16 to 24 years.................   31,762  19,642    61.8    17,148    2,494    12.7    32,228  19,771    61.3    17,352    2,419    12.2 
    25 to 34 years.................   31,237  26,418    84.6    24,832    1,585     6.0    31,118  26,219    84.3    24,753    1,466     5.6 
    35 to 44 years.................   36,296  30,669    84.5    29,207    1,462     4.8    35,745  30,072    84.1    28,793    1,280     4.3 
    45 to 54 years.................   35,277  29,071    82.4    27,979    1,092     3.8    35,904  29,452    82.0    28,374    1,079     3.7 
    55 to 64 years.................   24,533  15,296    62.3    14,696      600     3.9    25,625  15,963    62.3    15,386      577     3.6 
    65 years and over..............   30,733   4,298    14.0     4,143      155     3.6    30,975   4,490    14.5     4,339      151     3.4 
                                                                                                                                             
         Race and Hispanic                                                                                                                   
       or Latino ethnicity (1)                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                 
    White non-Hispanic or Latino...  148,569  98,833    66.5    94,057    4,776     4.8   149,414  98,920    66.2    94,480    4,440     4.5 
    Black non-Hispanic or Latino...   22,484  14,215    63.2    12,644    1,571    11.1    22,876  14,355    62.8    12,817    1,537    10.7                                                                                                   
    Asian non-Hispanic or Latino...    2,228   1,414    63.5     1,342       73     5.1     2,358   1,455    61.7     1,391       64     4.4 
    Hispanic or Latino ethnicity...   12,924   8,587    66.4     7,859      727     8.5    13,231   8,833    66.8     8,122      711     8.0 
                                                                                                                                             
       Educational attainment

       Total, 25 years and over....  158,075 105,751    66.9   100,857    4,894     4.6   159,366 106,197    66.6   101,645    4,552     4.3 
    Less than a high school                                                                                                                  
       diploma.....................   19,333   7,271    37.6     6,588      682     9.4    18,873   7,118    37.7     6,434      684     9.6 
    High school graduates, no                                                                                                                
       college (2).................   52,701  33,330    63.2    31,522    1,808     5.4    52,930  33,128    62.6    31,451    1,676     5.1 
    Some college or associate                                                                                                                
       degree......................   42,594  31,058    72.9    29,609    1,449     4.7    43,297  31,334    72.4    30,033    1,301     4.2 
    Bachelor's degree and                                                                                                              
       higher (3)..................   43,447  34,093    78.5    33,138      955     2.8    44,266  34,617    78.2    33,727      891     2.6 

    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 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are not strictly comparable
  with those for 2003.  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, 2003-04 annual averages
  
  (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                                                        2003                          2004            
               Characteristic                                                                         
                                                                                                      
                                             Total      Men      Women     Total      Men      Women  
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                FOREIGN BORN                                                                          
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 18

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   12,520     5,985     6,534    12,740     6,060     6,680 
    Civilian labor force..................    9,488     5,593     3,895     9,614     5,710     3,904 
        Participation rate................     75.8      93.4      59.6      75.5      94.2      58.4 
      Employed............................    8,896     5,284     3,611     9,125     5,474     3,652 
        Employment-population ratio.......     71.1      88.3      55.3      71.6      90.3      54.7 
      Unemployed..........................      592       309       283       489       236       253 
        Unemployment rate.................      6.2       5.5       7.3       5.1       4.1       6.5 
                                                                                                      
  With own children 6 to 17, none younger

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    6,253     2,893     3,360     6,268     2,907     3,361 
    Civilian labor force..................    4,975     2,663     2,313     5,024     2,715     2,309 
        Participation rate................     79.6      92.0      68.8      80.1      93.4      68.7 
      Employed............................    4,688     2,516     2,172     4,785     2,605     2,180 
        Employment-population ratio.......     75.0      87.0      64.7      76.3      89.6      64.9 
      Unemployed..........................      287       147       140       238       110       129 
        Unemployment rate.................      5.8       5.5       6.1       4.7       4.0       5.6 
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 6

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    6,267     3,092     3,174     6,472     3,153     3,319 
    Civilian labor force..................    4,513     2,930     1,582     4,590     2,995     1,595 
        Participation rate................     72.0      94.8      49.8      70.9      95.0      48.1 
      Employed............................    4,208     2,769     1,439     4,340     2,869     1,471 
        Employment-population ratio.......     67.1      89.5      45.3      67.1      91.0      44.3 
      Unemployed..........................      305       162       143       250       126       124 
        Unemployment rate.................      6.8       5.5       9.0       5.5       4.2       7.8 
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 3

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    3,740     1,878     1,862     3,789     1,865     1,924 
    Civilian labor force..................    2,618     1,786       832     2,596     1,778       819 
        Participation rate................     70.0      95.1      44.7      68.5      95.3      42.6 
      Employed............................    2,450     1,693       757     2,457     1,705       751 
        Employment-population ratio.......     65.5      90.2      40.6      64.8      91.4      39.1 
      Unemployed..........................      168        93        75       139        72        67 
        Unemployment rate.................      6.4       5.2       9.0       5.4       4.1       8.2 
                                                                                                      
       With no own children under 18
        
  Civilian noninstitutional population....   18,811     9,684     9,127    19,023     9,853     9,170 
    Civilian labor force..................   11,629     7,041     4,588    11,819     7,195     4,624 
        Participation rate................     61.8      72.7      50.3      62.1      73.0      50.4 
      Employed............................   10,836     6,566     4,270    11,130     6,789     4,340 
        Employment-population ratio.......     57.6      67.8      46.8      58.5      68.9      47.3 
      Unemployed..........................      793       475       318       690       406       283 
        Unemployment rate.................      6.8       6.8       6.9       5.8       5.6       6.1 
                                                                                                      
                NATIVE BORN                                                                           
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 18

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   53,492    23,593    29,899    53,136    23,424    29,712 
    Civilian labor force..................   44,271    22,261    22,010    43,757    22,053    21,703 
        Participation rate................     82.8      94.4      73.6      82.3      94.1      73.0 
      Employed............................   42,196    21,421    20,774    41,882    21,342    20,540 
        Employment-population ratio.......     78.9      90.8      69.5      78.8      91.1      69.1 
      Unemployed..........................    2,075       839     1,236     1,875       711     1,163 
        Unemployment rate.................      4.7       3.8       5.6       4.3       3.2       5.4 
                                                                                                      
  With own children 6 to 17, none younger

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   30,167    13,334    16,833    30,101    13,279    16,821 
    Civilian labor force..................   25,839    12,444    13,394    25,642    12,358    13,284 
        Participation rate................     85.7      93.3      79.6      85.2      93.1      79.0 
      Employed............................   24,784    12,004    12,780    24,700    11,993    12,707 
        Employment-population ratio.......     82.2      90.0      75.9      82.1      90.3      75.5 
      Unemployed..........................    1,054       440       614       942       365       577 
        Unemployment rate.................      4.1       3.5       4.6       3.7       3.0       4.3 
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 6

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   23,324    10,259    13,065    23,036    10,145    12,891 
    Civilian labor force..................   18,432     9,816     8,616    18,115     9,696     8,419 
        Participation rate................     79.0      95.7      65.9      78.6      95.6      65.3 
      Employed............................   17,411     9,417     7,994    17,182     9,349     7,833 
        Employment-population ratio.......     74.6      91.8      61.2      74.6      92.2      60.8 
      Unemployed..........................    1,021       399       621       933       347       586 
        Unemployment rate.................      5.5       4.1       7.2       5.1       3.6       7.0 
                                                                                                      
         With own children under 3

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   13,625     6,037     7,588    13,363     5,941     7,422 
    Civilian labor force..................   10,518     5,787     4,731    10,252     5,693     4,559 
        Participation rate................     77.2      95.9      62.3      76.7      95.8      61.4 
      Employed............................    9,900     5,541     4,359     9,696     5,483     4,212 
        Employment-population ratio.......     72.7      91.8      57.4      72.6      92.3      56.8 
      Unemployed..........................      617       245       372       556       210       346 
        Unemployment rate.................      5.9       4.2       7.9       5.4       3.7       7.6 
                                                                                                      
       With no own children under 18

  Civilian noninstitutional population....  136,346    67,173    69,173   138,458    68,373    70,085 
    Civilian labor force..................   81,123    43,343    37,780    82,212    44,021    38,190 
        Participation rate................     59.5      64.5      54.6      59.4      64.4      54.5 
      Employed............................   75,809    40,060    35,749    77,115    40,919    36,196 
        Employment-population ratio.......     55.6      59.6      51.7      55.7      59.8      51.6 
      Unemployed..........................    5,314     3,283     2,031     5,096     3,102     1,994 
        Unemployment rate.................      6.6       7.6       5.4       6.2       7.0       5.2 

      NOTE:  Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2004, estimated levels
  for 2004 are not strictly comparable with those for 2003.  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, 2003-04 annual averages
  
  (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                              2003                                      2004                  
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
               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

  Civilian noninstitutional population....      910     1,857      1,238     2,506        899     1,833      1,281     2,474  
    Civilian labor force..................      291     1,029        772     1,825        298       981        811     1,814  
        Participation rate................     32.0      55.4       62.4      72.8       33.2      53.5       63.3      73.3  
      Employed............................      274       978        730     1,749        279       948        768     1,747  
        Employment-population ratio.......     30.1      52.6       59.0      69.8       31.1      51.7       60.0      70.6  
      Unemployed..........................       17        51         42        76         19        33         43        67  
        Unemployment rate.................      6.0       5.0        5.5       4.2        6.4       3.4        5.3       3.7  
                                                                                                                              
       Black non-Hispanic or Latino

  Civilian noninstitutional population....      366       629        477       564        371       650        451       569  
    Civilian labor force..................      223       494        393       490        220       495        364       487  
        Participation rate................     60.9      78.5       82.2      86.9       59.4      76.1       80.7      85.6  
      Employed............................      195       458        361       458        198       463        332       463  
        Employment-population ratio.......     53.3      72.9       75.7      81.2       53.4      71.1       73.7      81.3  
      Unemployed..........................       28        35         31        32         22        32         31        25  
        Unemployment rate.................     12.5       7.1        7.9       6.6       10.1       6.5        8.6       5.0  
                                                                                                                              
       Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

  Civilian noninstitutional population....      867     1,304        932     3,033        874     1,291        986     3,163  
    Civilian labor force..................      405       863        675     2,321        390       862        727     2,394  
        Participation rate................     46.7      66.2       72.4      76.5       44.6      66.8       73.8      75.7  
      Employed............................      366       811        628     2,211        366       819        688     2,321  
        Employment-population ratio.......     42.2      62.2       67.3      72.9       41.9      63.4       69.8      73.4  
      Unemployed..........................       39        51         47       110         24        43         40        72  
        Unemployment rate.................      9.7       6.0        7.0       4.7        6.1       5.0        5.4       3.0  
                                                                                                                              
        Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    6,645     2,916      1,428     1,247      6,618     3,088      1,474     1,280  
    Civilian labor force..................    4,436     2,160      1,093       983      4,422     2,315      1,147       997  
        Participation rate................     66.8      74.1       76.6      78.9       66.8      75.0       77.9      77.9  
      Employed............................    4,095     2,040      1,036       940      4,111     2,209      1,102       957  
        Employment-population ratio.......     61.6      70.0       72.6      75.4       62.1      71.5       74.8      74.8  
      Unemployed..........................      341       120         58        44        311       105         46        40  
        Unemployment rate.................      7.7       5.6        5.3       4.4        7.0       4.6        4.0       4.0  
                                                                                                                              
                NATIVE BORN                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                              
       White non-Hispanic or Latino

  Civilian noninstitutional population....   13,010    42,044     33,809    37,843     12,622    42,042     34,302    38,440  
    Civilian labor force..................    4,713    26,005     24,276    29,493      4,546    25,719     24,536    29,797  
        Participation rate................     36.2      61.9       71.8      77.9       36.0      61.2       71.5      77.5  
      Employed............................    4,348    24,811     23,312    28,708      4,193    24,615     23,681    29,079  
        Employment-population ratio.......     33.4      59.0       69.0      75.9       33.2      58.5       69.0      75.6  
      Unemployed..........................      365     1,194        965       786        353     1,103        854       718  
        Unemployment rate.................      7.7       4.6        4.0       2.7        7.8       4.3        3.5       2.4  
                                                                                                                              
       Black non-Hispanic or Latino

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    3,448     6,410      5,001     3,022      3,391     6,600      5,068     3,097  
    Civilian labor force..................    1,267     4,292      3,820     2,458      1,228     4,400      3,768     2,554  
        Participation rate................     36.8      67.0       76.4      81.3       36.2      66.7       74.4      82.5  
      Employed............................    1,088     3,878      3,521     2,364      1,025     4,004      3,483     2,451  
        Employment-population ratio.......     31.6      60.5       70.4      78.2       30.2      60.7       68.7      79.1  
      Unemployed..........................      179       414        298        95        203       396        285       104  
        Unemployment rate.................     14.1       9.6        7.8       3.9       16.5       9.0        7.6       4.1  
                                                                                                                              
       Asian non-Hispanic or Latino

  Civilian noninstitutional population....      132       294        358       755        142       320        381       807  
    Civilian labor force..................       50       174        251       611         55       174        259       640  
        Participation rate................     38.0      59.0       70.2      81.0       38.4      54.6       68.0      79.2  
      Employed............................       46       167        243       593         52       170        252       624  
        Employment-population ratio.......     34.7      56.8       68.0      78.6       36.8      53.2       65.9      77.3  
      Unemployed..........................        4         7          8        18          2         4          8        16  
        Unemployment rate.................      8.8       3.8        3.1       3.0        4.2       2.4        3.0       2.5  
                                                                                                                              
        Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

  Civilian noninstitutional population....    2,324     3,078      2,487     1,350      2,297     3,084      2,590     1,406  
    Civilian labor force..................    1,088     2,270      2,008     1,142      1,131     2,251      2,075     1,207  
        Participation rate................     46.8      73.7       80.7      84.6       49.2      73.0       80.1      85.9  
      Employed............................      977     2,129      1,890     1,099      1,024     2,120      1,966     1,170  
        Employment-population ratio.......     42.1      69.1       76.0      81.4       44.6      68.8       75.9      83.3  
      Unemployed..........................      110       141        118        43        106       131        109        37  
        Unemployment rate.................     10.2       6.2        5.9       3.8        9.4       5.8        5.2       3.1  

    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 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are not strictly comparable with
  those for 2003.  See the Technical Note for further information.




  Table 4.  Employed foreign-born and native-born persons 16 years and over by occupation and sex, 
  2004 annual averages
  
  (Percent distribution)
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                   Foreign born                  Native born         
                        Occupation                                                                                   
                                                                                                                     
                                                            Total      Men      Women     Total      Men      Women  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
      Total employed (thousands).........................   20,255    12,263     7,992   118,997    62,261    56,736 
      Percent............................................    100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0 
                                                                                                                     
  Management, professional, and related occupations......     26.5      24.4      29.8      36.3      34.0      38.8 
    Management, business, and financial operations                                                                   
     occupations.........................................      9.8       9.8       9.8      15.3      16.9      13.6 
      Management occupations.............................      7.1       7.9       5.9      11.0      13.2       8.6 
      Business and financial operations occupations......      2.7       1.9       3.9       4.3       3.7       5.0 
    Professional and related occupations.................     16.7      14.6      20.0      20.9      17.1      25.2 
      Computer and mathematical occupations..............      3.0       3.8       1.9       2.1       2.9       1.2 
      Architecture and engineering occupations...........      2.1       2.9        .8       2.0       3.3        .6 
      Life, physical, and social science occupations.....      1.1       1.0       1.2       1.0       1.0        .9 
      Community and social services occupations..........       .9        .7       1.4       1.7       1.2       2.1 
      Legal occupations..................................       .5        .3        .8       1.2       1.2       1.2 
      Education, training, and library occupations.......      3.2       2.0       5.1       6.1       3.0       9.5 
      Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media                                                                 
       occupations.......................................      1.5       1.3       1.8       2.0       2.0       2.0 
      Healthcare practitioner and technical                                                                          
       occupations.......................................      4.4       2.6       7.1       4.9       2.4       7.7 
                                                                                                                     
  Service occupations....................................     22.8      18.3      29.8      15.2      12.2      18.5 
    Healthcare support occupations.......................      2.3        .5       5.1       2.1        .4       3.9 
    Protective service occupations.......................      1.0       1.3        .4       2.2       3.3       1.0 
    Food preparation and serving related occupations.....      7.5       7.5       7.5       4.8       3.7       6.1 
    Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance                                                                    
     occupations.........................................      8.4       7.5       9.8       2.9       3.5       2.3 
    Personal care and service occupations................      3.6       1.4       6.9       3.2       1.3       5.2 
                                                                                                                     
  Sales and office occupations...........................     18.4      13.3      26.3      26.7      18.0      36.2 
    Sales and related occupations........................      9.2       8.1      11.0      11.9      11.4      12.3 
    Office and administrative support occupations........      9.2       5.2      15.4      14.8       6.5      23.9 
                                                                                                                     
  Natural resources, construction, and maintenance                                                                   
     occupations.........................................     14.7      23.3       1.6       9.7      17.8        .9 
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...........      1.8       2.4        .9        .5        .8        .2 
    Construction and extraction occupations..............      9.7      15.8        .3       5.5      10.2        .3 
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations....      3.2       5.1        .4       3.7       6.8        .4 
                                                                                                                     
  Production, transportation, and material moving                                                                    
     occupations.........................................     17.5      20.7      12.5      12.1      18.1       5.5 
    Production occupations...............................     10.6      11.3       9.6       6.1       8.4       3.7 
    Transportation and material moving occupations.......      6.8       9.4       2.8       6.0       9.8       1.8 

      NOTE:  Due to the introduction of revised population controls in January 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are
  not strictly comparable with those for 2003.  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, 2003-04 annual averages
 
 (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                         2003                                         2004                    
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                        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 (1)                                     born (1)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
   Total, 16 years and over.........   15,227   $489     85,076   $643      76.0    15,580   $502     85,644   $664      75.6 
 Men................................    9,666    503     46,560    732      68.7     9,902    518     47,099    749      69.1 
 Women..............................    5,560    459     38,516    567      80.8     5,678    473     38,545    585      81.0 
                                                                                                                              
                 Age
                
 16 to 24 years.....................    1,512    345      9,278    393      87.7     1,551    341      9,325    397      85.8 
 25 to 34 years.....................    4,642    466     20,134    615      75.8     4,631    491     20,126    624      78.7 
 35 to 44 years.....................    4,493    522     22,602    716      72.8     4,538    540     22,323    741      72.9 
 45 to 54 years.....................    2,984    567     21,461    742      76.4     3,187    565     21,799    764      73.9 
 55 to 64 years.....................    1,355    600     10,084    725      82.8     1,409    607     10,523    740      82.0 
 65 years and over..................      241    500      1,516    518      96.6       264    552      1,548    562      98.2 
                                                                                                                              
     Race and Hispanic or Latino                                                                                              
           ethnicity (2)

 White non-Hispanic or Latino ......    2,863    681     66,371    683      99.7     2,852    731     66,563    702     104.1 
 Black non-Hispanic or Latino ......    1,266    515     10,258    515      99.8     1,268    533     10,374    529     100.8 
 Asian non-Hispanic or Latino ......    3,250    689        991    732      94.0     3,383    699      1,009    738      94.8 
 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.......    7,690    398      5,944    523      76.1     7,899    402      6,163    539      74.5 
                                                                                                                              
       Educational attainment

    Total, 25 years and over........   13,715    511     75,798    688      74.2    14,029    524     76,319    710      73.7 
 Less than a high school diploma....    4,034    369      4,559    430      86.0     4,094    373      4,439    433      86.2 
 High school graduates,                                                                                             
  no college (3)....................    3,359    467     23,724    569      82.1     3,486    478     23,655    586      81.5 
 Some college.......................    2,135    576     22,475    647      89.0     2,216    595     22,630    668      89.0 
 Bachelor's degree and higher (4)...    4,186    909     25,040    971      93.6     4,234    943     25,595    994      94.9 

   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 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are not strictly
 comparable with those for 2003.  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, 
  2003-04 annual averages
  
  (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                              
                                                   2003                                                        2004                           
                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                              
                                                Civilian labor force                                        Civilian labor force              
   Census regions       Civilian                                                    Civilian                                                  
    and divisions       noninsti-                                                   noninsti-                                                  
                        tutional                                    Unemployed      tutional                                    Unemployed    
                         popula-           Partici-                                  popula-            Partici-                              
                         tion      Total    pation    Employed              Unem-    tion     Total      pation   Employed              Unem-      
                                             rate                  Number   ploy-                         rate                  Number  ploy-
                                                                            ment                                                        ment  
                                                                            rate                                                        rate                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                
      FOREIGN BORN                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                              
    Northeast.........    6,936     4,577     66.0      4,275       301      6.6      7,030     4,666     66.4      4,409       258      5.5  
      New England.....    1,334       920     68.9        856        63      6.9      1,371       933     68.0        884        49      5.2  
      Middle                                                                                                                                  
       Atlantic.......    5,601     3,657     65.3      3,419       238      6.5      5,659     3,734     66.0      3,525       209      5.6  
                                                                                                                                              
    South.............    9,158     6,305     68.8      5,932       373      5.9      9,402     6,485     69.0      6,177       308      4.8  
      South                                                                                                                                   
       Atlantic.......    5,442     3,753     69.0      3,545       208      5.5      5,682     3,930     69.2      3,741       190      4.8  
      East South                                                                                                                              
       Central........      389       275     70.7        262        12      4.5        433       313     72.3        307         6      2.0  
      West South                                                                                                                              
       Central........    3,327     2,277     68.5      2,125       153      6.7      3,286     2,241     68.2      2,129       113      5.0  
                                                                                                                                              
    Midwest...........    3,504     2,404     68.6      2,235       169      7.0      3,460     2,364     68.3      2,226       138      5.8  
      East North                                                                                                                              
       Central........    2,683     1,814     67.6      1,688       126      6.9      2,636     1,759     66.7      1,658       101      5.7  
      West North                                                                                                                              
       Central........      820       589     71.8        546        43      7.3        824       605     73.4        568        37      6.2  
                                                                                                                                              
    West..............   11,733     7,831     66.7      7,290       542      6.9     11,870     7,918     66.7      7,444       474      6.0  
      Mountain........    1,835     1,287     70.2      1,210        77      6.0      1,897     1,308     69.0      1,244        64      4.9  
      Pacific.........    9,899     6,544     66.1      6,079       465      7.1      9,974     6,610     66.3      6,200       410      6.2  
                                                                                                                                              
      NATIVE BORN                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                              
    Northeast.........   35,685    23,066     64.6     21,754     1,312      5.7     35,520    22,956     64.6     21,738     1,218      5.3  
      New England.....    9,809     6,670     68.0      6,321       348      5.2      9,800     6,603     67.4      6,288       315      4.8  
      Middle                                                                                                                                  
       Atlantic.......   25,876    16,396     63.4     15,433       964      5.9     25,721    16,353     63.6     15,450       903      5.5  
                                                                                                                                              
    South.............   69,398    44,841     64.6     42,265     2,576      5.7     70,414    45,150     64.1     42,747     2,403      5.3  
      South                                                                                                                                   
       Atlantic.......   35,584    23,041     64.8     21,850     1,191      5.2     36,308    23,330     64.3     22,206     1,125      4.8  
      East South                                                                                                                              
       Central........   12,890     8,077     62.7      7,591       487      6.0     12,914     8,032     62.2      7,581       451      5.6  
      West South                                                                                                                              
       Central........   20,924    13,723     65.6     12,824       899      6.5     21,192    13,787     65.1     12,960       827      6.0  
                                                                                                                                              
    Midwest...........   46,720    32,088     68.7     30,221     1,867      5.8     46,829    32,028     68.4     30,196     1,831      5.7  
      East North                                                                                                                              
       Central........   32,487    21,877     67.3     20,504     1,374      6.3     32,559    21,837     67.1     20,502     1,335      6.1  
      West North                                                                                                                              
       Central........   14,233    10,210     71.7      9,717       493      4.8     14,270    10,190     71.4      9,695       496      4.9  
                                                                                                                                              
    West..............   38,034    25,398     66.8     23,765     1,634      6.4     38,830    25,835     66.5     24,316     1,519      5.9  
      Mountain........   12,477     8,471     67.9      7,996       475      5.6     12,838     8,724     68.0      8,277       448      5.1  
      Pacific.........   25,557    16,928     66.2     15,769     1,159      6.8     25,992    17,111     65.8     16,040     1,071      6.3  

   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 2004, estimated levels for 2004 are not strictly comparable with those
  for 2003.  See the Technical Note for further information.