Many industries in the region depend on immigrant workers
Overall, a larger percentage of the immigrant population in the region, 57.16%, are of prime working age, 25 to 54, compared to 37.18% of the native-born population.
Immigrants are also overrepresented in the workforce.
Philadelphia immigrants make up 13.8% of the total working population, but hold 14.9% of jobs. Statewide, foreign-born residents account for 9.1% of the total working-age population, and hold 9.8% of jobs.
In industries including health care, education, manufacturing, construction, retail and transportation, the data shows that immigrants make up a significant percentage of the workforce.
“These sectors many of us know are already experiencing labor shortages as population ages and as people move away,” Jones said. “Immigrants fill roles that are essential to daily life in critical sectors of the economy. Without immigrants, current shortages would be even more severe.”
Dr. Monica Taylor, chair of Delaware County Council, said her county reaps the economic benefits of immigrant laborers and entrepreneurs.
“Almost 12% of our population is foreign-born,” she said. “And when we look at the amount of new businesses that our immigrant population is opening, the entrepreneurship, the contributions in especially health care, [it] is just really astounding, and it’s really helping to make our businesses thrive and grow.”
Dr. Monica Taylor, chairwoman of Delaware County Council, was a panelist at the Exploring Trends: How Immigration Shapes Our Region event at WHYY Studios on Sept. 18, 2025. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
Nelly Jiménez-Arévalo, Montgomery County’s director of immigrant affairs, said a similar story is playing out in her county.
“You see a lot of economic growth and food corridors in Montgomery County that are full of businesses,” she said. “That, of course, is strengthening our tax base.”
Nelly Jiménez-Arévalo, director of Montgomery County’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, was a panelist at the Exploring Trends: How Immigration Shapes Our Region event at WHYY Studios on Sept. 18, 2025. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)