06/06/2026
The job market is the worst for young people. Why? Getting rid of immigrants does not increase employment opportunities because the labor market is not a zero-sum game.
The fundamental reasons why removing immigrants fails to boost employment for native populations include:
1) Decreased Demand for Goods: Immigrants are not just workers; they are also consumers who buy groceries, rent housing, and use services. When this population is removed, local businesses lose customers, forcing them to reduce production and lay off native workers.
2) Labor Market Complementarity: Jobs held by U.S.-born and immigrant workers are heavily connected. For example, if a construction company loses its immigrant framing crews, there is less work available for native-born electricians, plumbers, and project managers. Similarly, a shortage of immigrant restaurant kitchen staff can lead to reduced hours or closures, which directly reduces work for waitstaff and managers.
3) Lack of Direct Replacement: Immigrants often fill specific jobs that native workers may be unable or unwilling to take due to location, wages, or physical requirements. Rather than filling these vacant roles, employers typically scale back their operations or abandon projects, which depresses overall hiring.
4) Reduced Support for Key Industries: Affordable immigrant labor in sectors like child care and elder care allows native-born parents to participate in the workforce. Removing these support services forces native workers—often mothers—to drop out of the labor force to care for their families at home.
5) Economic analyses, such as research from the Economic Policy Institute, show that mass deportations lead to contractions in the labor market and hurt everyone, rather than freeing up positions for local citizens. To learn more about how immigrants integrate as both workers and consumers, read the Wharton School's insight on the Economic Benefits of Immigration.