The Relationship Between Immigrant Labor and Americans' Aging Decisions
Fri, 20 January, 2023
12:00pm - 1:30pm
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the 65+ population will reach 94 million by 2060. With this age group overwhelmingly desiring to age at home, the demand for home health aides has substantially increased. Despite the growing demand, native-born Americans are hesitant to fill these roles due to long work hours and low pay, leading to increased immigrant representation in this industry. This presentation will investigate the growing role of immigrants in the home health aide industry, how their numbers and characteristics have changed over time, and what this means for future policy reform.
Joshua Rodriguez is a second-year MA in International Affairs candidate at the George Washington University concentrating in migration and development. His research interests include the migration-development nexus, immigrant integration and inclusion, and the refugee and asylum systems. Outside of GW, he works in federal immigration advocacy at the Immigration Hub focusing on topics like DACA, TPS, and family reunification. He has also been a part of other immigration policy and advocacy organizations such as the Migration Policy Institute where he researched low-income immigrants, the effects of higher education on labor market outcomes, and Ukrainian refugee displacement.