Immigration and Work in Utah

image of a u.s. citizen and immigration services document

One cultural narrative that reflects American ideals is that people who immigrate to the US do so in order to gain the chance for a better life. Work is an important part of this experience, with many people believing that they can find better work in the US than elsewhere. Moreover, employment is a large part of what makes immigration possible. People immigrating to the US need official permission to move here, which often entails specific documents like visas or permits. These documents are often bound up with work. For example, employers can sponsor new employees for a visa,1 and workers with specific job skills may apply for permanent, employment-based visas for themselves and their families.2 Temporary visitors, including students, may also apply for a work permit.3 As these examples show, employment and labor become bound up with immigration.

For a long time, the rhetoric surrounding immigrants and new American workers has been polarizing. Research has shown that immigration is a “net benefit” to the US, especially given labor shortages among US citizens.4 Today, immigrants make up about 17% of the US’s civilian workforce5 and have been predicted to drive growth for the next 10 years.6 Even so, some political pundits claim new workers are stealing American jobs.7 This rhetoric has been given center stage during recent presidential elections. 

This Topic in Utah

Utah has a significant and growing immigrant community. Today, the largest immigrant population is from Mexico; others include India, Canada, El Salvador, China, Peru, and the Philippines.8 Immigrants in Utah participate in the workforce at a high rate and “play vital roles in some of the state’s fastest-growing and most in-demand fields."9 For example, immigrants constitute an estimated 11% of the state workforce, including 10% of local entrepreneurs and almost 30% of local construction workers.10

Utah has begun to provide more state resources to meet this valuable demographic. In 2021, the state legislature created the Utah Immigration Assistance Center to help immigrants become contributing members of Utah society, including through work.11 Recent legislation has also provided ways for undocumented persons living in Utah to use their history to begin applying for citizenship.12 Utah organizations may also offer resources to help local businesses support their immigrant workers.13

These trends today also continue a long history of immigrants coming to Utah, often to work in the industrial or mining sectors, or else the railroads and transportation. Some of Utah’s earliest immigrant communities were from Wales, Ireland, and China.14 Then later, during the late 1800s and early 1900s, Utah saw an influx of immigrants from Europe, particularly Italy and Greece.15 Each successive wave of immigrants has brought new kinds of work, new business, new businesses, and new markets to the state of Utah.