A new report shows where immigrants are more likely to be employed in Connecticut compared to U.S. born workers. Immigrants, on a percentage basis, are most likely to be found in the administrative sector.
That’s according to data compiled by Pew Charitable Trusts. An interactive graphic it published shows immigrants are 1.7 times as likely to be employed in the administrative sector, compared to U.S. born workers. On the opposite end of the spectrum, immigrants are 60 percent less likely to be employed in public administration, compared to U.S. born workers.
Here are the top 5 sectors where immigrants are more likely to be employed:
- Administrative services, 1.7 times;
- Construction, 1.6 times;
- Other services, 1.6 times;
- Leisure and hospitality, 1.5 times; and,
- Agriculture and extraction, 1.4 times.
Here are the top 5 sectors where immigrants are less likely to be employed:
- Public administration, .4 times;
- Information, .5 times;
- Education services, .6 times;
- Trade, transportation, and utilities, .8 times; and,
- Finance and real estate, .9 times.
The one sector where equality is achieved, with just as many immigrants likely to work as U.S. born workers, is healthcare and social services. That’s the second largest job sector in Connecticut, with 16 percent of employment share. The trade, transportation, and utilities sector is first at 17 percent.
The report said understanding how workers are distributed across a state’s economy can help inform policymakers’ decisions regarding immigration and employment policies — such as whether to provide workers with skills-based training, set standards for occupational credentials, provide language classes for non-native English speakers, or mandate the use of the federal online employment eligibility verification system E‑Verify.