The term “immigrant” is at the center of much political, public and policy discussion in countries around the world. The word refers to people who move to a country other than their own to reside there permanently or for a prolonged period of time, whether they are legally authorized to do so (those with legal immigration status) or not (those without such status). International migrants are distinct from the population of foreign tourists, students on exchange programs, temporary workers and travelers who pass through a country en route to another one.
Immigrants are a vital component of many modern economies, making up nearly one-fifth of the U.S. workforce and contributing in a variety of ways to the nation’s economy, culture and society. In addition to providing essential labor, immigrants bring unique talents and perspectives to the United States, advancing the country’s innovation and competitiveness. They are disproportionately employed in the construction and service industries, and are overrepresented in occupations that require specialized skills, such as medical professionals and software engineers.
Most immigrants say their main reason for moving to a new country is to pursue opportunities for themselves and their children, including better work and educational opportunities, and more rights and freedoms. A smaller share cites joining family members, or escaping unsafe or dangerous conditions in their home countries.
Regardless of how they got to their new homes, most migrants see their lives improving over time. This is partly due to the objective improvement in living conditions – as the economy of their destination country rises, so do the living standards of its citizens. But it is also because migrants gradually evaluate their new homes with a sharper eye, and compare their standard of living to those of native-born residents. As a result, their subjective happiness gains may lag behind objective improvements in incomes and employment rates.
As the population of many developed countries ages, immigrants are a source of future economic growth. They are especially important in professions such as health care and nursing, where their years of training and experience make them valuable assets to aging societies.
However, a number of policies limit the ability of many immigrants to contribute to their host countries. In the United States, this has contributed to low levels of immigration over the past few decades. As a result, the country is facing a shortage of working-age adults and an aging elderly population. Unless addressed, these trends could threaten the country’s long-term prosperity.