Celebrating Labor Day 2024
Labor Day is more than just a long weekend marking the end of summer. It is a day to honor the achievements of the American worker, the backbone of our nation’s prosperity. This holiday is a testament to the strength, ingenuity, and relentless spirit of laborers who have built and continue to build the United States. Among these workers, immigrants play a pivotal role in shaping the economic and cultural landscape of our country. Their contributions are woven into the very fabric of our society, making Labor Day a celebration of the diverse and hardworking spirit that defines America.
From the earliest days of our nation’s founding, immigrants have been at the forefront of economic progress. They came to these shores with dreams of a better life, and through their labor, they helped to forge a nation of unprecedented growth, wealth, and opportunity. The construction of our railroads, the cultivation of our fields, the building of our cities, and the expansion of our industries—all these were made possible with the tireless efforts of immigrant workers. Their contributions have been both vast and varied, encompassing every sector of the economy, from agriculture to manufacturing, from technology to healthcare.
In honor of Labor Day, I’d like to share a few facts with you. As of recent years, immigrants make up about 19% of the U.S. workforce. This percentage has grown steadily over the decades as immigration policies have evolved and the U.S. economy has expanded. Immigrants are heavily represented in various sectors, including agriculture, construction, healthcare, hospitality, and technology. In agriculture, immigrants constitute more than 70% of farmworkers, playing a crucial role in food production; in healthcare, immigrants make up nearly 17% of the workforce, including doctors, nurses, and home health aides; and in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), immigrants account for about 25% of the workforce, driving innovation and technological advancement.
In addition, first and second-generation immigrants have founded more than 40% of the current Fortune 500 companies, which include some of the most successful and innovative businesses in the world. What do Google founder Sergey Brin, Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Yahoo founder Jerry Yang, and AT&T’s initial founder, Alexander Graham Bell, all have in common? They were all immigrants who came to this country to seek their fortunes. Upon realizing how many of these household names are immigrants, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that immigrants contribute about $2 trillion to the U.S. GDP annually, and immigrants pay an estimated $458 billion in taxes each year, including federal, state, and local taxes. Undocumented immigrants alone contribute approximately $11.7 billion annually in state and local taxes.
The story of immigrants in the American labor force is not just one of economic contribution, but also of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Many of these workers faced discrimination, harsh working conditions, and limited opportunities. Yet, despite these challenges, they persevered. Their struggles helped contribute to the formation of labor unions and the fight for workers’ rights, which have been instrumental in securing fair wages, safer working conditions, and the establishment of the very holiday we celebrate today—Labor Day.
Today, immigrants continue to be an integral part of the American labor force. They are the entrepreneurs who start businesses, the engineers who drive innovation, the healthcare workers who care for our sick, and the farmworkers who ensure we are fed. They are vital to the sectors that keep our economy running and contribute significantly to the richness of our culture and society. Their contributions are not just limited to economic growth; they also bring diversity, creativity, and a global perspective that enriches our nation.
Labor Day may mark the symbolic end of the summer season, but it is truly a celebration of the American worker. It is a day to honor the sacrifices and achievements of those who have contributed to the legacy of this nation. As we commemorate this day, let’s not forget the indispensable role that immigrants have played in our labor force and recommit ourselves to ensuring that the American dream remains within reach for all who are willing to work hard to achieve it.
- Chairman Nasser J. Kazeminy
September 2024
