Drop in unauthorized immigration slows job growth, SF Fed paper finds

Core Insights - The recent decline in unauthorized immigration to the U.S. has led to a slowdown in job growth, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors, with implications for the job market and housing affordability [1][1][1] Employment Trends - The San Francisco Federal Reserve's research indicates that local job growth has mirrored the trends in unauthorized immigration, with a significant drop in job additions in 2025, where only 181,000 jobs were added compared to 1.459 million in 2024 [1][1][1] - Areas experiencing the largest declines in unauthorized immigration also saw the most significant slowdowns in employment growth across construction, manufacturing, and other services [1][1][1] Construction Sector Impact - The construction sector is particularly affected, as the reduction in unauthorized immigrant worker flows is likely slowing residential construction and consequently hindering the growth of housing supply [1][1][1] - The Trump administration argues that reduced immigration will benefit American workers and make housing more affordable by decreasing demand [1][1][1] Future Outlook - Continued declines in unauthorized immigrant worker flows are expected to exert downward pressure on U.S. employment growth [1][1][1]