WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. labor market showed signs of strain in February as the economy lost 92,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, according to the latest employment report.
New analysis highlighted by the Center for American Progress, a Washington-based policy research organization, suggests recent immigration restrictions may be contributing to slower labor force growth without producing the economic benefits supporters predicted.
The report notes that job growth from the previous two months was revised downward, pushing December’s employment numbers into negative territory after earlier estimates had indicated stronger hiring. Overall, the United States has experienced a net job loss since April 2025, when new tariffs were first announced, raising broader concerns about the direction of the labor market.
Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics also included updated population adjustments reflecting a sharp decline in immigration. Net international migration dropped from 2.7 million in July 2024to 1.3 million in June 2025, following a series of federal policies that expanded immigration enforcement, restricted work visas, ended Temporary Protected Status for many migrants and introduced new travel bans.
Economists say immigration has historically played a major role in sustaining workforce growth in the United States.
“Immigration has long been one of the most important drivers of labor force growth in the United States,” economist Sara Estep, who helped analyze the data, said in a statement. “Recent restrictions have sharply reduced migration without producing the expected gains for native-born workers.”
The analysis points to several trends in the current labor market, including job losses occurring alongside declining immigration levels and weaker labor force participation among some U.S.-born workers.
Immigrants have accounted for roughly half of the nation’s labor force growth over the past three decades, according to the analysis, and an even larger share in recent years. With the U.S. population aging and birth rates declining, economists say immigration will likely play an increasingly important role in maintaining a stable workforce.
Researchers also warn that sharply reducing immigration could slow long-term economic growth. Some projections suggest the United States could face more frequent periods of negative job growth if workforce expansion continues to slow.
Studies cited in the analysis indicate that while strict immigration enforcement can sometimes produce short-term wage increases for certain workers, those gains often fade over time as slower population growth reduces overall economic activity.
Economists note that many factors influence monthly employment numbers, but the combination of job losses, downward revisions to earlier reports and declining immigration levels could signal challenges ahead for the U.S. labor market.
