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The Industries Most Reliant on Immigrant Workers
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Key Takeaways
- Immigrants in developed countries are far more concentrated in hospitality, administrative services, and construction roles.
- Native-born workers dominate public-sector, health, and manufacturing jobs.
Immigrants play a crucial role in the labor markets of developed countries, yet their employment patterns differ significantly from native-born workers. This visualization breaks down where foreign-born workers tend to work across OECD economies.
The data for this visualization comes from the OECD’s International Migration Outlook 2025. It measures the share of foreign-born and native-born workers by industry across several developed countries.
Industries Where Immigrants Are Most Concentrated
Hospitality and administrative services stand out with the highest immigrant share—over 16% in accommodation and food, and 17% in administrative service activities. These sectors often rely on flexible and seasonal labor, making them entry points for newcomers.
Construction also shows a modest immigrant concentration, reflecting long-term demand for skilled and semi-skilled labor. Together, these industries highlight where migration most visibly supports economic activity.
| Industry | Foreign-born (%) | Native-born (%) | Difference (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food | 16.5 | 5.2 | 11.3 |
| Administrative Service Activities | 17.2 | 6.5 | 10.7 |
| Agriculture | 4.6 | 2.9 | 1.7 |
| Construction | 8.6 | 7.6 | 1.1 |
| Other Service Activities | 2.9 | 2.7 | 0.2 |
| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.1 |
| Real Estate Activities | 0.8 | 0.9 | -0.2 |
| Mining and Quarrying | 0.3 | 0.5 | -0.2 |
| Information and Communication | 2.8 | 3 | -0.2 |
| Water Supply | 0.2 | 0.5 | -0.3 |
| Electricity, Gas and Steam | 0.1 | 0.5 | -0.4 |
| Professional Activities | 4.9 | 5.6 | -0.7 |
| Transportation and Storage | 4.3 | 5.3 | -1 |
| Education | 4.2 | 5.3 | -1.2 |
| Financial and Insurance Activities | 1.1 | 3.2 | -2.2 |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade | 11.5 | 15 | -3.5 |
| Health | 6.3 | 10 | -3.7 |
| Public Administration and Defense | 3.6 | 9.3 | -5.7 |
| Manufacturing | 8.6 | 14.4 | -5.8 |
Industries Dominated by Native-Born Workers
Public administration, health, and manufacturing show the widest gaps in favor of native-born workers. These fields typically require domestic credentials, security clearances, or lengthy training pipelines.
Manufacturing also faces long-standing workforce shortages, yet remains far less accessible to immigrant workers at entry. The result is a structural divide that limits immigrant participation in some of the largest employment sectors.
Neutral or Balanced Sectors
A handful of industries like real estate, arts and entertainment, and other service activities show almost no difference between foreign- and native-born representation. These sectors may offer more flexible entry paths or a mix of small-business and freelance roles.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: U.S. Job Cuts by Industry in 2025 on Voronoi, the app from Visual Capitalist.