New Data Brief Finds Immigrant Healthcare Workers Are Essential to New York’s Healthcare System and Economy

Analysis estimates immigrant workers in three major healthcare sub-sectors support more than $61.6 billion in GDP and generate roughly $10.3 billion in annual tax revenue

Data warns of future workforce pressures, noting that more than 45 percent of immigrant workers in home care are age 55 or older

ALBANY, N.Y. (04/24/2026) — The Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy at the Rockefeller Institute of Government has released a new data brief highlighting the major economic and demographic impact of immigrant healthcare workers in New York State. The analysis finds that immigrant workers are a vital part of the state’s healthcare workforce and a substantial driver of economic activity, particularly in general hospitals, home health care services, and nursing care facilities.

According to the brief, more than 372,000 immigrant workers are directly employed across these three healthcare sub-sectors in New York. Their employment is associated with nearly 230,000 additional jobs supported statewide through supply-chain activity and household spending, more than $61.6 billion in annual gross domestic product (GDP), and approximately $10.3 billion in annual tax revenue.

“New York’s healthcare system depends in significant measure on the skill, labor, and dedication of immigrant workers,” said report author and 2026 Fellow on Immigrant Integration Wilson Han. “This brief shows that immigrant healthcare workers are not only essential to delivering care in hospitals, nursing facilities, and homes, but also to sustaining jobs, economic output, and public revenues across the state.”

“This analysis makes clear that immigrant healthcare workers are deeply embedded in the structure of care delivery in New York,” said Dr. Dina Refki, executive director of the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy. “As policymakers and healthcare leaders plan for the future, they must account for the workforce realities revealed in this brief — especially in sectors facing labor shortages, rising demand, and demographic transition.”

According to Assemblywoman Phara Souffrant Forrest, chair of the New York State Assembly Task Force on New Americans and a practicing nurse, “The numbers in this brief confirm what communities in my district already know: immigrant workers are the backbone of healthcare in New York. More than a third of our nursing care workforce and nearly two-thirds of home care workers are immigrants. That is not a footnote — it is a structural reality that must shape how we legislate, how we fund, and how we protect this workforce.”

The brief finds that immigrant workers make up especially large shares of the workforce in key care settings. In home care, immigrants account for 61.68 percent of workers; in nursing care, 33 percent; and in general hospitals, 29.78 percent. Among the three sectors studied, hospitals employ the largest number of immigrant workers, while home care is the most reliant on immigrant labor.

• The analysis estimates that immigrant workers in general hospitals are associated with $45.45 billion in GDP and 169,690 additional jobs. In home care, immigrant workers are associated with $10.3 billion in GDP and 36,229 additional jobs. In nursing care facilities, they are associated with $5.91 billion in GDP and 23,924 additional jobs.
• Beyond their economic impact, the brief also underscores the demographic importance of this workforce. It finds that immigrant healthcare workers in these sectors are predominantly female, especially in home care, where women account for 90.2 percent of immigrant workers. The brief also points to potential future workforce pressures, noting that more than 45 percent of immigrant workers in home care are age 55 or older.
• The report further highlights strong regional concentration and variation across New York. New York City, in particular, is home to a large share of the state’s immigrant healthcare workforce, including more than 130,000 immigrant home care workers. At the same time, the demographic composition of immigrant healthcare workers differs across upstate and downstate regions, illustrating the complexity and diversity of the workforce that supports care systems across the state.

The data brief draws on 2024 American Community Survey data for workforce and demographic estimates and uses IMPLAN modeling to estimate job creation, GDP contribution, and tax generation in 2025-dollar values. The brief also notes methodological limitations, including possible undercounting of undocumented workers, the use of modeling assumptions, and sector categories that may not capture all specialized healthcare roles.

For a copy of the data brief, visit: https://www.nyimmigrants.org/_files/ugd/5572f9_f4a373fde076406286dea88292522fdb.pdf

About the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy:

The Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy at the Rockefeller Institute of Government advances the economic, social, and political integration of foreign-born New Yorkers through research, policy analysis, and community engagement. Its work supports stronger communities, informed policymaking, and a deeper understanding of the factors that shape immigrant integration across New York State.