More houses were built, supply chains were reestablished, and the tourist industry was able to keep up with demand in 2023 largely because of the estimated 1.1 million individuals who have entered the U.S. with immigration parole since the start of the Biden administration, and are now working in industries with labor shortages, according to estimates from FWD.us. With labor demand at all-time highs coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, paroled immigrants have made a sizable difference toward closing labor gaps. And, with still two open positions for every unemployed person in the U.S., these individuals are meeting an economic need that will likely persist for years.
Industries with critical labor shortages
added 1.1 million workers through immigration parole
Humanitarian parole likely accounted for about a third of the reduction in labor shortages
INDIVIDUALS GRANTED PAROLE CONTRIBUTING TO INDUSTRIES WITH WORKER SHORTAGES
Sources: FWD.us analysis of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and augmented 2021 American Community Survey data.
Note: Estimates rounded to 10,000. Industries with an estimated 10,000 or more paroled workers shown. See Methodology for details.
Note: Estimates rounded to 10,000. Industries with an estimated 10,000 or more paroled workers shown. See Methodology for details.
“By the end of 2023, paroled immigrants had contributed, on the aggregate, to a third of the decrease in total job openings for shorthanded industries.”
By the end of 2023, paroled immigrants had contributed, on the aggregate, to a third of the decrease in total job openings for shorthanded industries since their peak in early 2022. Although a direct link between the filling of job vacancies by paroled adults and more tempered inflation rates cannot be made, it is likely that newly arrived individuals helped to ease inflation through workforce expansion in these industries challenged by labor shortages.
Immigration parole authorizes government officials to allow individuals to temporarily enter and remain in the U.S. Some paroled immigrants are eligible to apply for work authorization. Immigration parole is a timely, legal immigration tool that has let the U.S. extend urgent humanitarian relief to individuals fleeing some of the world’s most dangerous situations. Examples of parole policies used by the Biden administration include Operation Allies Welcome for Afghans, Uniting for Ukraine, the Cuba-Haiti-Nicaragua-Venezuela (CHNV) policy, and the CBP One app process at the southern border.
Parole provides relief to people seeking safety while also benefiting the U.S., as these new arrivals bring an array of talents and skills. Thousands of carpenters, medical workers, and manufacturing workers, among many other skilled individuals, have been admitted into the U.S. through immigration parole in recent months. With work authorizations available through immigration parole, they can contribute those skills to U.S. communities.
Humanitarian parole has proven very successful for paroled individuals and the U.S. alike. Congress should not limit the parole powers of the executive branch that have existed in law for decades. The administration should also not abandon its successful efforts to expand legal pathways and alleviate pressure at the border. Doing so would only create more disorder and chaos.
