Potential Impact of Mass Deportation on U.S. Industries
Mass deportation could significantly affect key industries in the United States, particularly construction and agriculture, where one in eight workers could be removed. In the hospitality sector, about one in 14 workers might face deportation due to their undocumented status.
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to initiate mass deportations within 24 hours of taking office on January 20.
This graphic highlights the top industries employing undocumented immigrant workers, along with their share of each industry’s workforce. The data is sourced from the American Immigration Council, as of 2022.
Over Six Million Undocumented Workers
The U.S. is estimated to have over six million undocumented workers across various industries.
Construction has the highest concentration of undocumented workers, making up 13.7% of its workforce.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Undocumented Workers | Share of Workforce |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 1,544,600 | 13.7% |
| Agriculture | 244,700 | 12.7% |
| Hospitality | 1,002,200 | 7.1% |
| General Services | 500,800 | 6.5% |
| Wholesale Trade | 193,400 | 5.5% |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 460,500 | 5.5% |
| Manufacturing | 870,400 | 5.4% |
| Professional Services | 970,800 | 4.7% |
| Retail Trade | 708,500 | 3.9% |
| Mining and Extraction | 22,100 | 3.6% |
Agriculture heavily relies on undocumented labor, with these workers constituting 12.7% of its labor force.
The hospitality sector employs over one million undocumented immigrants, representing 7.1% of its workforce.
Contributions of Undocumented Immigrants
California, Texas, and Florida are home to 47% of the nation’s undocumented immigrants.
In 2022 alone, undocumented immigrant households made significant contributions to the U.S. economy:
- Federal taxes: $46.8 billion
- State and local taxes: $29.3 billion
- Social Security contributions: $22.6 billion
- Medicare contributions: $5.7 billion
Additionally, about 5.1 million U.S. citizen children live with an undocumented family member.