Immigrants in Healthcare: Hospital Workforce Role
Immigrants play a vital role in the U.S. hospital workforce, comprising a notable portion and impacting staffing levels. According to a recent analysis, approximately 16% of all hospital workers are immigrants, with even higher representation among physicians and building maintenance staff. News Directory 3 reports on how shifts in immigration policies could affect healthcare access and workforce shortages. Discover the critical contributions of immigrant workers across various states, including California, Florida, New York, and Texas, and understand the potential consequences of policy changes. Explore the data and learn how immigration impacts the future of U.S. healthcare.
Immigrants’ vital Role in the US Hospital Workforce
Updated June 17, 2025
Immigration policy shifts in recent years have cast a spotlight on the role of immigrants across various sectors, including the U.S. hospital workforce. While much attention has been paid to undocumented immigrants, policy changes also affect those with legal status, potentially impacting workforce availability and healthcare access. A recent KFF poll indicated that many lawfully present immigrants harbor concerns about potential detention or deportation affecting themselves or their families.
Proposed policy adjustments, such as those related to health insurance coverage debated within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, could further complicate the lives of immigrants residing in the United States.the establishment of a new registry requirement,coupled with financial incentives for voluntary departure,adds another layer of complexity. These factors, taken together, could lead to a decrease in the number of immigrants in the country, potentially deterring future immigration as well.
Immigrants are a significant component of the U.S. labor pool, particularly in sectors like agriculture, construction, and healthcare.With existing workforce shortages in numerous regions and healthcare occupations, limiting immigration could exacerbate these challenges. This,in turn,could reduce access to care,strain staffing levels,diminish the quality of care provided,and drive up labor costs for hospitals,potentially impacting patients and payers.
A recent analysis of 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) data examines the role immigrants play in the hospital workforce, considering both clinical and nonclinical roles across different states. The study encompasses both noncitizen immigrants (including those with legal status and undocumented individuals) and naturalized citizens.
Immigrants Account for a significant Portion of Hospital Staff
Approximately 16% of all hospital workers in the U.S. are immigrants, a figure consistent across both clinical and nonclinical roles, according to the ACS data. Clinical staff, including physicians, pharmacists, technicians, and nursing assistants, show a 17% immigrant representation, while nonclinical roles, such as building maintenance, food service, and office support, have a 15% representation. This mirrors the overall immigrant share of the total U.S. workforce. Naturalized citizens comprise a larger portion of immigrant hospital workers compared to noncitizen immigrants. the majority of immigrant hospital workers are women, with Asian, Hispanic, and black individuals representing the largest demographic groups. This percentage has remained stable since 2018.
Physicians and Nursing Assistants See High Immigrant Representation
Within clinical occupations, immigrants account for a notable 27% of physicians working in U.S. hospitals. Naturalized citizens make up 19% of this group, while noncitizen immigrants represent 8%. With existing physician shortages projected to worsen, limiting immigration could further strain the healthcare system. Nursing assistants also have a significant immigrant presence, at 22%.
Registered Nurses (RNs) show an immigrant representation of 16%, mirroring the overall hospital workforce. A growing number of hospitals are relying on foreign-educated nurses to fill RN vacancies, with a significant portion of hospitals actively recruiting internationally.
Building maintenance: A Key Area of Immigrant Contribution
Immigrants represent a substantial 29% of building cleaning and maintenance staff in U.S. hospitals, nearly double the overall nonclinical worker representation. Noncitizen immigrants make up a larger share of this group compared to the broader nonclinical hospital workforce.
Geographic Distribution: High Concentrations in Key States
Nine states have immigrant populations comprising at least 20% of their hospital workforce. These states are concentrated in the West,South,and Northeast regions,including California,Florida,New York,and Texas. California has the highest share, with immigrants representing 32% of hospital workers. this reflects the overall distribution of immigrants across the United States.
In these four largest states, immigrants account for more than 30% of physicians working in hospitals.
The data underscores the significant role immigrants play in maintaining the U.S. hospital workforce, filling critical positions across various occupations and geographic locations. Changes in immigration policies could have far-reaching consequences for staffing levels and the overall healthcare system.
What’s next
Future research will explore the long-term effects of immigration policy on hospital staffing and patient outcomes, providing a more thorough understanding of this critical issue.