Decade-Long Surge in U.S. Foreign-Born Population: The Importance of Connecting With This Growing Demographic

The United States has experienced a significant influx of foreign-born individuals over the past decade, according to recent data released by the Census Bureau. This surge has reshaped demographics across the nation, with notable implications for various states and counties.

Here's what you need to know in order to reach immigrants across the US says Hard Beat Communications, experts in multicultural marketing.

Key Findings:

The foreign-born population in the U.S. has increased by over 5 million people in the last ten years, reaching a total of 46.2 million, which now accounts for 13.7% of the country's population.

California, New Jersey, New York, and Florida emerged as the states with over a fifth of their population being immigrants, reflecting substantial growth in immigrant communities.

Immigrants made up over one-fifth of the population in four states: California (26.5%), New Jersey (23.2%), New York (22.6%) and Florida (21.1%).

While many US states experienced an uptick in their immigrant populations, New Mexico stood out as the sole exception, showing a decrease during the same period.

Harris County, Texas, witnessed the most significant increase in immigrant population, followed closely by Miami-Dade County, Florida, and King County, Washington.

From 2010 to 2022, the total foreign-born population increased by 15.6%. In Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota and West Virginia, the foreign-born populations grew by 40% or more.

From 2010 to 2022, the median age of the foreign-born population increased by over 5 years (from 41.4 to 46.7), while the median age of the native population rose by only 1 year (from 35.9 to 36.9).

A higher percentage of foreign-born individuals completed high school or higher in 2022 (75.1%) than in 2010 (68.3%).

Almost one-half (49.1%) of all immigrants in the United States entered the country before 2000.

An estimated 63.5% of the foreign-born population (16 years and older) was employed, with over one-third of the civilian employed foreign-born population (16 years and older) in management, business, science and arts occupations.

Over three-quarters (78.3%) of the nation age 5 and older spoke only English at home, according to newly released 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS), 5-year estimates. This is a decrease from 78.7% in 2013-2017, the most recent nonoverlapping five-year period.

Among those that spoke a language other than English in 2018-2022, Spanish (61.1%), Chinese (which includes all dialects) (5.1%), and Tagalog (including Filipino) (2.5%) were the three most spoken languages at home. Among the population age 5 and older that spoke a language other than English at home, 61.0% of Spanish speakers, 48.2% of Chinese speakers (which includes all dialects), and 69.8% of Tagalog (including Filipino) speakers spoke English “very well.”

Impact and Implications:

This demographic shift underscores the increasing diversity within American society, with immigrants contributing significantly to the nation's cultural, social, and economic fabric.

The data also highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the needs of immigrant communities, including access to education, employment opportunities, and social services.

As immigrants continue to play a vital role in various sectors of the economy, their integration and participation in American society remain critical for overall national development.

Conclusion:

The latest Census Bureau report serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of the U.S. population and the ongoing changes reshaping communities across the country. With immigration continuing to be a defining feature of American society, policymakers and stakeholders must work towards fostering inclusivity in marketing. Connect with Hard Beat today to target the multicutural market in the US.