E.g., 04/18/2024
E.g., 04/18/2024
State Workforce Data - NY
 

New York

Workforce
2022
2000
1990
Civilian Labor Force

Note: 1) Persons are considered to be in the civilian labor force if they were employed or if they were unemployed but actively looking for work. Persons not in the labor force include homemakers, retirees, students who do not work, and others who are neither working outside the home nor looking for work. Civilian labor force excludes members of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines). 2) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 3) Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS. 4) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Note: The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.

Foreign Born
Population (16 and older) 4,295,560
% in the civilian labor force 64.1%
Civilian labor force (age 16 and older) 2,753,454
% unemployed of the total civilian labor force 4.9%
Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) 2,619,374
% change: 2000-2022 33.7%
% change: 1990-2000 29.3%

Note: The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.

U.S. Born
Population (16 and older) 11,858,681
% in the civilian labor force 62.1%
Civilian labor force (age 16 and older) 7,364,241
% unemployed of the total civilian labor force 5.2%
Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) 6,980,964
% change: 2000-2011 8.5%
% change: 1990-2000 -5.8%
Foreign Born
Population (16 and older) 3,604,797
% change: 2000-2011 58.9%
Civilian labor force (age 16 and older) 2,122,749
% change: 1990-2000 7.7%
Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) 1,959,726
   
   
U.S. Born
Population (16 and older) 11,207,831
% change: 2000-2011 61.7%
Civilian labor force (age 16 and older) 6,913,823
% change: 1990-2000 6.9%
Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) 6,433,574
   
   
Foreign Born
Population (16 and older) 2,629,246
% change: 2000-2011 62.7%
Civilian labor force (age 16 and older) 1,648,000
% change: 1990-2000 8.1%
Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) 1,515,113
   
   
U.S. Born
Population (16 and older) 11,516,293
% change: 2000-2011 63.5%
Civilian labor force (age 16 and older) 7,317,496
% change: 1990-2000 6.7%
Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) 6,830,866
   
   
Foreign-Born Labor Force by U.S. Citizenship Status

Note: 1) Persons are considered to be in the civilian labor force if they were employed or if they were unemployed but actively looking for work. Persons not in the labor force include homemakers, retirees, students who do not work, and others who are neither working outside the home nor looking for work. Civilian labor force excludes members of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines). 2) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 3) Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS. 4) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born
Naturalized Citizens  
Population (16 and older) 2,660,719
% in the civilian labor force
61.7%
Civilian labor force (age 16 and older) 1,641,664
% unemployed of the total civilian labor force 4.5%
Civilian employed workers (age 16 and older) 1,566,571
Noncitizens  
Population (age 16 and older) 1,634,841
% in the civilian labor force
68.1%
Civilian labor force (age 16 and older) 1,113,327
% unemployed of the total civilian labor force
5.5%
Civilian employed workers (age 16 and older) 1,052,803
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Foreign-Born Workers by Period of Entry and Origin Foreign Born
Foreign-Born Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) by Period of Entry

Note: The total estimate of foreign-born workers here is somewhat different from other Workforce data due to different ACS data sources.

2,637,400
% recent arrivals (i.e., arrived within the last 10 years)
23.9%
Foreign-Born Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) by Region of Birth

Note: The total estimate of foreign-born workers here is somewhat different from other Workforce data due to different ACS data sources.

2,637,400
Born in Africa 6.2%
Born in Asia 29.5%
Born in Europe 13.7%
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 49.0%
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 1.3%
Born in Oceania 0.3%
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Occupations

Note: 1) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 2) Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS. 3) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born
Civilian Workers Age 16 and Older 2,619,374
% Civilian Workers Employed in  
Management, business, science, and arts occupations 37.1%
Service occupations 26.6%
Sales and office occupations 15.9%
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 8.4%
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 12.1%
% Foreign Born by Occupation  
All civilian employed workers 27.3%
Management, business, science, and arts occupations 22.1%
Service occupations 38.7%
Sales and office occupations 22.8%
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 34.8%
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 33.8%
U.S. Born
Civilian Workers Age 16 and Older 6,980,964
% Civilian Workers Employed in  
Management, business, science, and arts occupations 49.2%
Service occupations 15.8%
Sales and office occupations 20.2%
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 5.9%
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 8.9%
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Industries

Note: 1) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 2) Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS. 3) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born
Civilian Workers Age 16 and Older 2,619,374
% Civilian Workers Employed in  
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 0.2%
Construction 7.7%
Manufacturing 4.6%
Wholesale trade 1.8%
Retail trade 9.1%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 8.1%
Information 1.9%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 7.5%
Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste-management services 12.3%
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 28.1%
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services 9.3%
Other services (except public administration) 6.0%
Public administration 3.3%
% Foreign Born by Industry  
All civilian employed workers 27.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 9.7%
Construction 37.1%
Manufacturing 22.3%
Wholesale trade 26.2%
Retail trade 24.7%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 38.3%
Information 17.8%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 25.6%
Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste-management services 25.8%
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 26.8%
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services 30.1%
Other services (except public administration) 34.4%
Public administration 19.5%
U.S. Born
Civilian Workers Age 16 and Older 6,980,964
% Civilian Workers Employed in  
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 0.7%
Construction 4.9%
Manufacturing 6.0%
Wholesale trade 1.9%
Retail trade 10.4%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 4.9%
Information 3.3%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 8.2%
Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste-management services 13.3%
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 28.8%
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services 8.1%
Other services (except public administration) 4.3%
Public administration 5.1%
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Class of Worker

Note: 1) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 2) Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS. 3) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born
Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) (%) 2,619,374
Private wage and salary workers 80.2%
Government workers 12.0%
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business 7.6%
Unpaid family workers 0.3%
U.S. Born
Class of Worker (civilian workers age 16 and older) (%) 6,980,964
Private wage and salary workers 77.0%
Government workers 17.7%
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business 5.2%
Unpaid family workers 0.1%
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
Population (age 25 and older)
 
 
Labor Force Participation by Language Spoken at Home Number
Total Population (native and foreign born) Age 25 and older 13,892,241
In labor force 8,914,759
Not in labor force 4,977,482
Speak only English 9,595,239
In labor force 6,098,069
Not in labor force 3,497,170
Speak Spanish 2,011,385
In labor force 1,326,580
Not in labor force 684,805
Speak other Indo-European languages 1,228,284
In labor force 788,750
Not in labor force 439,534
Speak Asian and Pacific Island languages 794,869
In labor force 514,396
Not in labor force 280,473
Speak other languages 262,464
In labor force 186,964
Not in labor force 75,500
%
Total Population (native and foreign born) age 25 and older 100%
  In labor force 64.2%
Not in labor force 35.8%
Speak only English 100%
  In labor force 63.6%
Not in labor force 36.4%
Speak Spanish 100%
  In labor force 66.0%
Not in labor force 34.0%
Speak other Indo-European languages 100%
  In labor force 64.2%
Not in labor force 35.8%
Speak Asian and Pacific Island languages 100%
  In labor force 64.7%
Not in labor force 35.3%
Speak other languages 100%
  In labor force 71.2%
Not in labor force 28.8%
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Workers' Education and English Proficiency

Note: 1) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 2) The term limited English proficient (LEP) refers to any person age 5 and older who reported speaking English "not at all," "not well," or "well" on their survey questionnaire. Persons who speak only English or who report speaking English "very well" are considered proficient in English.

Foreign Born
Civilian Employed Workers (age 25 and older) 2,494,100
Low-educated workers (i.e., those without a high school diploma) 437,900
% low educated of all workers
17.6%
High-educated workers (i.e., those with at least a bachelor's degree) 988,900
% high educated of all workers
39.6%
Limited English Proficient (LEP) Workers (age 25 and older) 1,039,700
% LEP among all workers
41.7%
U.S. Born
Civilian Workers (age 25 and older) 6,043,600
Low-educated workers (i.e., those with high school diploma) 236,700
% low educated of all workers
3.9%
High-educated workers (i.e., those with at least a bachelor's degree) 3,104,300
% high educated of all workers
51.4%
Limited English Proficient (LEP) Workers (age 25 and older) 128,700
% LEP among all workers
2.1%
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Brain Waste

Note: The terms "brain waste" and "skill underutilization" are used interchangeably and describe a phenomenon when college-educated persons are either unemployed or employed in unskilled jobs, i.e., jobs that require only moderate on-the-job training or less, such as construction laborers, taxi drivers, file clerks, or nannies.

Foreign Born
Skill Underutilization among College-Educated Workers (age 25 and older)*

Note: Estimates are based on Migration Policy Institute analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau's data. Data for Montana, West Virginia, and Wyoming are not available for foreign-born college-educated adult workers due to the small sample size. Data for Alaska, Maine, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont are from the pooled 2018-2022 ACS. Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS.

 
Total civilian, college-educated labor force, age 25+ 1,020,600
Number underutilized (i.e., unemployed or employed in low-skilled jobs)
201,900

% of civilian, college-educated labor force, age 25+

19.8%
U.S. Born
Skill Underutilization among College-Educated Workers (age 25 and older)*  
Total civilian, college-educated workers, age 25+ 3,177,500
Number underutilized (i.e., unemployed or employed in low-skilled jobs)
496,700

% of all civilian, college-educated workers, age 25+

15.6%
 
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   

Sources: Migration Policy Institute tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census. Unless stated otherwise, 2022 data are from the one-year ACS file. For information about ACS definitions, click here. For ACS methodology, sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here. Estimates from 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census data as well as ACS microdata are from Steven Ruggles, Sarah Flood, Matthew Sobek, Daniel Backman, Annie Chen, Grace Cooper, Stephanie Richards, Renae Rogers, and Megan Schouweiler. IPUMS USA: Version 14.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2023. https://doi.org/10.18128/D010.V14.0​.

Definitions

  • The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.
  • The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.
  • Persons are considered to be in the civilian labor force if they were employed or if they were unemployed but actively looking for work. Persons not in the labor force include homemakers, retirees, students who do not work, and others who are neither working outside the home nor looking for work. Civilian labor force excludes members of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines). Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 
  • The term limited English proficient (LEP) refers to any person age 5 and older who reported speaking English “not at all,” “not well,” or “well” on their survey questionnaire. Persons who speak only English or who report speaking English “very well” are considered proficient in English.
  • The terms "brain waste" and "skill underutilization" are used interchangeably and describe a phenomenon when college-educated persons are either unemployed or employed in unskilled jobs, i.e., jobs that require only moderate on-the-job training or less, such as construction laborers, taxi drivers, file clerks, or nannies.

Data-related notes

  • The letter N indicates that an estimate could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.
  • For “Civilian Labor Force,” “Foreign-Born Labor Force by U.S. Citizenship Status,” “Occupations,” “Industries,” and “Class of Worker”: Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau's pooled 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS.
  • For “Foreign-Born Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) by Period of Entry,” “Foreign-Born Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) by Region of Birth,” and “Workers' Education and English Proficiency (age 25 and older)”: The total estimate of foreign-born workers here is somewhat different from other workforce data due to different ACS data sources. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are based on Migration Policy Institute (MPI) analysis of the Census Bureau's pooled 2018-2022 ACS data. Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are based on MPI analysis of the 2022 ACS.
  • Brain waste estimates are based on Migration Policy Institute analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau's ACS data. Data for Montana, West Virginia, and Wyoming are not available for the foreign-born college-educated adult workers due to the small sample size. Data for Alaska, Maine, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont are from the pooled 2018-2022 ACS. Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2022 ACS.