How Should 2026 Recruitment Strategies Adapt to the Percentage of New Jobs Created by Immigrants?

[McLila]

From my perspective, I’d say immigrants currently account for a significant and growing share of new job creation, but putting a precise single percentage on it is tricky because the data varies by country and time period. In the US, for example, recent studies from organizations like the Economic Policy Institute and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that foreign-born workers have filled roughly 50% to 70% of net new jobs added since 2023. That’s a massive chunk, and the trend is accelerating due to demographic shifts and an aging native-born workforce.

The reason this matters for recruitment is practical. If you’re a hiring manager, ignoring this demographic means you’re missing a huge talent pool. I’ve seen companies that actively adjust their sourcing strategies—like posting on multicultural job boards or offering visa sponsorship for specialized roles—consistently outperform those that don’t. The data backs this up. A 2024 report from the National Foundation for American Policy highlighted that immigrant-founded startups create an average of 150 jobs per company within their first five years.

Here’s a quick snapshot of how the numbers break down across recent years:

Period	Share of New Jobs Created by Immigrants (US)
2019–2022	48%
2023–2025	62%
2026 (Projected)	68% to 72%

The takeaway is that integrating immigrant talent isn’t just a diversity initiative—it’s a core recruitment strategy. Companies that build structured onboarding programs for internationally trained professionals and offer clear career pathways tend to see higher retention and faster time-to-fill for critical roles.

[SanEverett]

Honestly, I think the number is way higher than most people realize. In my own experience working on a team that was mostly immigrants, I saw how many new roles got created just because we had people from different backgrounds bringing in fresh ideas. One study I read said over 55% of tech startups in Silicon Valley were founded by immigrants, and each one of those hires dozens of people. So yeah, the percentage is big, and it’s only going to grow.

[CorbinDella]

I’d say the real figure is around 60% to 70% for new job creation in fast-growing sectors like healthcare and tech. I’ve seen this firsthand in my network. A lot of my friends who moved here within the last decade either started their own businesses or got hired into roles that literally didn’t exist five years ago. That’s not a coincidence. Immigrants tend to fill gaps that native-born workers aren’t available for, which drives overall job growth.

[HaleyDella]

For me, the key number to remember is that immigrants have been responsible for over half of all new US jobs since 2020. I base this on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Pew Research. What’s interesting is that these aren’t just low-wage roles. A huge chunk is in professional services, engineering, and healthcare. In recruitment terms, that means if you’re not actively targeting immigrant candidates, you’re leaving a massive slice of the talent pie on the table.

[EmilioMarie]

From what I’ve seen, the percentage is somewhere between 50% and 65% depending on the region. In cities like New York, Toronto, or London, it’s even higher. The reason is simple: immigrants often bring skills that are in high demand but short supply locally. I’ve worked with teams where most of the new hires were foreign-born, and they consistently outperformed expectations. One report from the OECD even showed that immigrant-owned businesses hire 10% more workers per year than native-owned ones. So the numbers speak for themselves.