Undocumented Workers in US Workforce, 2005

Pew Hispanic Center Estimates, 2005 Percent of Workforce: 4.9 percent Insulation workers 36% Miscellaneous agricultural workers 29% Roofers 29% Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers 28% Helpers, construction trades 27% Butchers and other meat, poultry, and fish processing workers 27% Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials 26% Grounds maintenance workers 25% Construction laborers 25% Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons 25% Dishwashers 23% Helpers--production workers 23% Maids and housekeeping cleaners 22% Graders and sorters of agricultural products 22% Painters, construction and maintenance 22% Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers 21% Computer hardware engineers 20% Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders 20% Packers and packagers, hand 20% Cleaners of vehicles and equipment 20% Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers 20% Cooks 20% Parking lot attendants 19% Upholsterers 18% Sewing machine operators 18% Food preparation workers 17% Laundry and dry-cleaning workers 15% “Analysis of the March 2005 Current Population Survey shows that there were 11.1 million unauthorized in the United States a year ago. Based on analysis of other data sources that offer indications of the pace of growth in the foreign-born population, the Center developed an estimate of 11.5 to 12 million for the unauthorized population as of March 2006.” http://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/61.pdf Source: Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of augmented March 2005 Current Population Survey, adjusted for omissions. Occupations shown have at least 50,000 workers and unauthorized share at least three times the national share (4.9%)