The top fields for immigrant college graduates include management (16%), computer and mathematical occupations (13%), healthcare practitioners and technicians (11%), business and financial operations (10%), and education (9%). These fields reflect the growing demand for highly skilled workers across various sectors of the US economy
A recent analysis by the US-based Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has revealed that nearly 48% of immigrants arriving in the US between 2018 and 2022 held a college degree. This significant finding highlights the growing trend of highly educated immigrants contributing to the US workforce, according to a report in the Times of India.
The study, authored by senior policy analyst Jeanne Batalova, shows that 35% of all immigrant adults, or about 14.1 million people, had earned at least a bachelor’s degree by 2022. This is nearly on par with the 36% of US-born adults, which comprises around 67.8 million people with similar academic achievements.
Additionally, immigrant college graduates are more likely to hold advanced degrees than their US-born counterparts. In 2022, 15% of immigrant college graduates held professional or doctoral degrees, compared to 11% of US-born graduates
India leads the global pool of educated immigrants, with 2 million degree holders, representing 14% of the total educated immigrant population in the US. China (including Hong Kong) follows with 1.1 million educated immigrants, accounting for 7.9% of the total. The Philippines and Mexico round out the top four, contributing 7% and 6%, respectively.
Many college-educated immigrants enter the US on temporary visas for skilled workers, researchers, or family reunification. Others arrive as humanitarian migrants or pursue their education after arriving in the US. Between 2018 and 2022, the US saw 1.7 million new college-educated immigrants, 20% of whom were from India.
English proficiency is a key factor among this group, with 74% of highly educated immigrants reporting that they either speak only English or speak it “very well.”
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