Introduction
Immigrants and their U.S.-born children, known as the immigrant-origin population, are an important source of talent for the U.S. economy. With the country facing an aging population and declining birth rate, immigrant-origin adults will likely provide nearly all labor-force growth in the coming decades.
Many first- and second-generation adults already have credentials beyond high school (including degrees, certificates, certifications, and licenses), but millions do not. These adults are an important target for efforts to build the skills needed in an increasingly knowledge-based economy.
This fact sheet provides a national profile of immigrant-origin adults who lack postsecondary credentials. It provides data for every state and the District of Columbia and also explores state-level and regional trends.
Findings
As of 2017, immigrant-origin adults represented 30% of all adults nationwide who lack postsecondary credentials. The proportion is higher in many states, including California (58% of adults without such credentials), Massachusetts (43%), and Texas (40%).
Since 2000, the number of immigrant-origin adults has grown rapidly. In all but two states (New Hampshire and Maine), it has grown faster than the number of adults whose parents were both born in the U.S.
In most states, first-generation immigrant adults are less likely to hold postsecondary credentials than their U.S.-born counterparts. They’re more likely to be credentialed in Rust Belt states, in part because of local government programs designed to attract foreign-born talent.
Notable progress is being made in credential attainment among immigrant-origin residents. In most states, the second generation outperforms the first, attaining outcomes equal to those in non-immigrant families.
Limited English proficiency and undocumented status hinder credential attainment. The share of adults with limited English skills and no credentials is higher in traditional gateway states, including Texas and California. The share of undocumented immigrant adults who lack credentials is highest in the South and Southeast.