As an economist who studies how immigration influences economies, including health care systems, I see a consistent picture: Immigrants are a vital part of the health care workforce, especially in roles facing staffing shortages. People born outside the U.S. constitute 33.2 percent of the Golden State’s health care workforce, a higher percentage than in any other state. In New York City, they make up a majority of health care workers, representing 57 percent of the health care workforce. While health care demand soars, the pipeline for new health care workers could struggle to keep pace under current rules. Aligning immigration policy with the needs of the health care system would not, by itself, fix every problem in U.S. health care.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 29, 2025 14:08 UTC