10 Jobs America Could Struggle to Fill Without Immigrant Workers

Across the U.S., immigrant workers hold millions of jobs that keep daily life moving, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Immigration Council. In several industries, their share of the workforce is far above the national average. Here are 10 jobs America could struggle to fill without immigrant workers.

Farmworkers

Immigrant workers are central to U.S. agriculture, especially in California, Florida, and Washington. The U.S. Department of Labor has repeatedly found that a large share of crop workers are foreign-born, with many working in seasonal harvest roles that are hard to staff year after year.

The American Farm Bureau Federation said in a 2024 labor update that farmers continue to report shortages during planting and harvest. In states like California, where fruit, vegetable, and nut production leads the nation, fewer available workers can mean crops are left unpicked and losses rise quickly.

Without immigrant labor, growers would likely face sharper staffing gaps in jobs that already have high turnover and physically demanding conditions. The USDA has said labor availability remains one of the biggest factors affecting production costs and food supply reliability in labor-intensive agriculture.

Construction laborers

Construction depends heavily on immigrant labor in fast-growing states such as Texas, Florida, and Arizona. The National Association of Home Builders said foreign-born workers made up roughly 1 in 4 construction workers nationwide in recent labor market reviews, with even higher shares in some metro areas.

That matters because the U.S. already has a housing shortage measured in the millions of units, according to housing industry estimates cited by builders in 2024 and 2025. When crews are short on framers, roofers, and concrete workers, project timelines stretch and labor costs often increase.

For residents, the practical effect can show up in slower homebuilding, delayed repairs, and higher project bids. Associated Builders and Contractors said in 2025 that the industry would need hundreds of thousands of additional workers to meet expected demand, even before accounting for retirements.

Home health aides

Home health aides are one of the fastest-growing jobs in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Demand is rising as the U.S. population ages, with adults age 65 and older projected by the Census Bureau to outnumber children by a wide margin in coming decades.

Immigrant workers fill a significant share of these caregiving jobs in cities like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. PHI, a national care workforce research group, has reported that direct care jobs often combine modest wages, high turnover, and irregular hours, making recruitment difficult across many states.

Without those workers, families could face longer waits for in-home help and agencies could struggle to keep clients staffed. The BLS has projected millions of openings for home health and personal care aides this decade, driven by growth and by workers leaving the occupation.

Restaurant cooks

Restaurants rely on immigrant labor in both back-of-house and prep roles, especially in large hospitality markets such as Las Vegas, Chicago, and New York City. The National Restaurant Association has said hiring remains one of the industry’s biggest operational challenges after the pandemic-era labor shakeup.

Cooks, dishwashers, and line staff are hard to replace quickly because training takes time and turnover is high. Federal labor data has shown food preparation and serving occupations consistently rank among the largest job categories in the U.S., employing millions of workers each year.

For diners, shortages can mean shorter hours, reduced menus, or slower service, all outcomes restaurant operators have publicly described in state and national surveys since 2023. The industry group said labor availability continues to shape how many tables and shifts many restaurants can run.

Housekeepers and hotel staff

Hotels, resorts, and cleaning contractors depend on immigrant workers in tourism-heavy markets including Orlando, Honolulu, and Southern California. The American Hotel and Lodging Association said in multiple workforce updates that housekeeping remains one of the toughest roles to fill across the lodging sector.

That challenge matters in places where travel is a major local employer and room turnover must happen daily. Housekeepers, laundry workers, and cleaners keep hotels operating on tight schedules, and when staffing falls short, properties may delay room availability or limit the number of rooms for sale.

Travelers may notice longer check-in waits or reduced daily housekeeping where staffing is thinner. Industry surveys released in 2024 found many hotel operators were still trying to rebuild payrolls, even as leisure travel demand stayed relatively strong in several major U.S. destinations.

Meatpacking workers

Meat and poultry processing has long relied on immigrant labor in states such as Nebraska, Arkansas, and Iowa. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and industry groups have noted that these plants often operate in rural areas where employers say local labor pools are limited.

The work is physically demanding and turnover has historically been high, according to labor and industry reports. Processing disruptions can affect supply chains quickly because large plants handle significant volumes of beef, pork, and poultry that move into grocery stores and restaurants across the country.

Without stable staffing, companies could face slower production and tighter supply in some categories. The USDA has repeatedly said labor is one factor tied to food processing capacity, and any weakness there can ripple into prices, availability, and delivery schedules.

Truck drivers and delivery workers

Immigrants also play an important role in moving goods, especially in regional delivery, warehouse support, and freight-linked jobs. The American Trucking Associations has said the U.S. has faced a driver shortage for years, with the gap estimated in the tens of thousands.

Even though long-haul driving has licensing barriers, related logistics roles often depend on immigrant labor in large freight hubs like Southern California, New Jersey, and Texas. As e-commerce grew after 2020, distribution networks added pressure on employers already competing for workers.

For consumers, labor shortages in this field can show up as slower deliveries or higher shipping costs. Industry analysts and employer groups said in 2024 and 2025 that recruiting remains difficult as older drivers retire and freight demand shifts from region to region.

Janitors and building cleaners

Office towers, schools, hospitals, and apartment buildings rely on cleaners every day in cities from Boston to Seattle. Bureau of Labor Statistics data has shown janitors and building cleaners make up a large national workforce, with many workers employed by contractors rather than property owners.

Immigrant workers hold a notable share of these jobs, particularly in major metro areas with large commercial real estate footprints. Cleaning schedules are closely tied to public health, school operations, and tenant expectations, which means missed staffing targets can affect daily building use almost immediately.

Residents may not always see the labor behind the work, but they notice when it is missing. Building service groups and local employers have said routine cleaning, trash removal, and overnight maintenance are among the hardest shifts to keep fully staffed.

Child care workers

Child care has been under staffing pressure for years, and immigrant workers are part of the answer in many communities. The Center for American Progress and other policy groups have documented persistent shortages, while BLS data shows pay in child care often trails wages in other service jobs.

That creates a practical problem for working parents in places like New Jersey, California, and the Washington, D.C., region, where care is already expensive and waitlists can be long. Providers have said it is difficult to hire and retain staff who meet licensing requirements.

If fewer workers are available, centers may cap enrollment or reduce classroom capacity. That can affect not just families but also local employers, since labor force participation often depends on reliable child care, a link repeatedly highlighted in economic studies since 2022.

Nursing assistants

Nursing assistants and support staff are essential in hospitals, rehab centers, and nursing homes nationwide. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected steady demand for nursing assistants, orderlies, and psychiatric aides as the population ages and long-term care needs keep growing.

Immigrant workers make up a meaningful part of the health care support labor pool, especially in large urban systems. The Migration Policy Institute and other researchers have reported that foreign-born workers are overrepresented in several direct care and support occupations compared with the overall workforce.

For patients and families, staffing shortages can mean heavier workloads for existing teams and longer delays in non-emergency care tasks. Health care employers and federal workforce analysts have said retention and recruitment in support roles remain ongoing concerns in 2025 and 2026.