Subscribe:AppleSpotifyAmazonRSSEpisode 1557Apr 23, 2026“Our labor market is not a fixed pie distributed among immigrant workers and U.S.-born workers,” said economist Chloe East. “Instead it's much more dynamic.”
DownloadBlake Fagan/AFP via Getty ImagesSubscribe:AppleSpotifyAmazonRSSThe labor force participation rate in the U.S. has fallen to the lowest level it’s been since 1977 (aside from the during the height of the pandemic). One reason for the decline? President Trump’s immigration crackdown. University of Colorado Boulder economist Chloe East joins Kimberly to break down the unexpected ways restrictive immigration policies affect the labor market, and trends she’s paying attention to during this second Trump administration.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Why More People Are Dropping Out of the Job Market" from The Wall Street Journal"ICE Arrests across Trump's First and Second Terms: Variation in Targeting, Method, and Geography" from the National Bureau of Economic Research "How immigration-law enforcement can affect high-skilled American women" from The Economist"Trump’s deportation agenda will destroy millions of jobs: Both immigrants and U.S.-born workers would suffer job losses, particularly in construction and child care" from the Economic Policy InstituteWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.The TeamKimberly Adams HostCourtney Bergsieker ProducerDaisy Palacios Supervising Senior Producer
