Honoring the contributions of immigrants to the workforce

B Stands for Building Communities

Greetings,

Earlier this week, many around the United States gathered for barbeques and attended parades to mark the unofficial end of summer, otherwise known as Labor Day. While celebrating one last hurrah before the fall starts in earnest, it is important to consider the real reason that we celebrate Labor Day in the United States.

Labor Day has been recognized as a federal holiday since 1894, with the purpose of honoring the contributions and achievements of American workers. As we think about the American workforce, we must also uplift the contributions of immigrant labor. Simply put, the functioning of the United States would not be possible without the labor of immigrants.

Immigrants are nurses, doctors, business owners, teachers, grocery clerks, law enforcement officers, faith leaders, agricultural workers, and more. Over 30 million immigrants play a part in the U.S. workforce and aid in reducing the labor shortage in key industries like agriculture, technology, and health care.

In fact, according to the Council on National Security and Immigration, the number of working-age immigrants in America offers an advantage in outcompeting the economic and military powers of Russia and China. The United States is unique in that it experiences a constant influx of working-age immigrants, which will continue to mitigate the downward trend of record-low fertility rates and population decline. The strong tradition of welcoming immigrants to the United States is one of our greatest strengths that will allow us to keep up with economic needs.

The immigrant workforce continues to build and bolster communities across the United States. On Labor Day and every day, we thank immigrants for their contributions to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of America. Please join us in asking Congress to prioritize meaningful, bipartisan immigration reforms as a way of thanking immigrants for their contributions to the continued economic success of the United States.

Stay committed and hopeful,

Andrea

Andrea Corro
Field and Constituencies Coordinator
National Immigration Forum

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