Immigrants now ¼ of California’s population, 34% of its entire labor force

Hundreds of immigrants registering at a California Department of Motor Vehicles office.

WASHINGTON, DC — Data released by the American Immigration Council show that immigrants account for over a quarter of California’s population and comprise a staggering nearly 34 percent of the entire labor force.

A little over 77 percent of all workers in farming, fishing and forestry are immigrants, as are 61.7 percent of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance employees.

The California state fact sheet includes data on population size, educational and citizenship attainment, English proficiency levels and data on undocumented immigrants and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, as well as the contributions of immigrants in the state.

The fact sheet reveals that immigrant entrepreneurs in California generate $21.8 billion in business revenue. In 2014, immigrants in the state paid $56.5 billion in federal taxes and $26.4 billion in state and local taxes.

As consumers, immigrants spent $238.7 billion on California’s economy. Undocumented immigrants comprised 9 percent of the state’s workforce in 2014 and paid an estimated $3.2 billion in state and local taxes in 2014.

Drawing from U.S. Census data and other sources, the Council developed 50-state fact sheets that provide the latest demographic and economic contributions of immigrants in each U.S. state and can be accessed here