Industries with critical labor shortages
added hundreds of thousands of workers through immigration parole

More houses were built, supply chains were reestablished, our food supply was secured, and the tourist industry was able to keep up with demand in recent years largely because of the estimated 740,000 individuals who have entered the U.S. with immigration parole between 2021 and 2024, and are now working in the U.S. labor force, according to estimates from FWD.us.

With labor demand at all-time highs coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing economy for years thereafter, paroled immigrants have made a sizable difference toward closing labor gaps, including adding 120,000 construction workers to the U.S. workforce, 120,000 in the leisure and hospitality industry, and 90,000 in manufacturing, among other sectors.

INDIVIDUALS GRANTED PAROLE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE U.S. LABOR FORCE

Immigration parole authorizes government officials to allow individuals to temporarily enter and remain in the U.S. on a case by case basis. Most paroled immigrants are eligible to apply for work authorization. Immigration parole is a timely, legal immigration tool that has let the U.S. extend urgent humanitarian relief to individuals fleeing some of the world’s most dangerous situations. Examples of humanitarian programs that involve parole authority include Operation Allies Welcome for Afghans, Uniting for Ukraine, the Cuba-Haiti-Nicaragua-Venezuela (CHNV) process, and the CBP One app process at the southern border.

By the end of April 2025, more than half a million individuals who were admitted under the CHNV process will have their parole status and work authorization revoked by the Trump administration. A FWD.us survey shows that CHNV paroled individuals did not rely on government resources, and instead depended on American family members until they were able to gain employment. An estimated 240,000 who entered under the CHNV parole policy are currently in the U.S. labor force, including 40,000 in manufacturing, 30,000 in leisure and hospitality, 30,000 in construction, and 30,000 in health services.