May 01, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Foreign-born workers by occupation, 2006

In 2006, a smaller proportion of foreign-born than native-born workers was employed in management, professional, and related occupations, 26.4 versus 36.4 percent.

Percent distribution of employed foreign-born and native-born persons, by occupation, 2006
[Chart data—TXT]

Foreign-born workers were more likely than their native-born counterparts to be employed in service occupations (22.5 versus 15.4 percent); these included food preparation and serving related occupations and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations.

More than one in four of all native-born workers were employed in sales and office occupations; the proportion of foreign-born workers in these occupations was 17.9 percent. 

Foreign-born workers were more likely than native-born workers to be employed in natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (16.5 versus 10.0 percent), and in production, transportation, and material moving occupations (16.7 versus 11.9 percent).

These data are from the Current Population Survey.  For more information, see "Foreign-Born Workers: Labor Force Characteristics in 2006" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 07-0603.

 

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