NYC Immigrants Drive 43% of City's Workforce, New Report Finds

New York City just released its most detailed look at immigration in over a decade, and the findings celebrate a workforce powered by global talent.

The 2026 edition of "The Newest New Yorkers" reveals that immigrants make up 43% of the city's workforce while representing just over one-third of the total population. Nearly half of all New Yorkers speak a language other than English at home, creating a vibrant multilingual metropolis.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and city officials unveiled the report this month, marking the first comprehensive update since 2013. The study now includes an interactive online tool that lets anyone explore demographic trends across all five boroughs.

"Immigrant New Yorkers are writing the future of this city every day," Mamdani said. "From the neighborhoods they have built to the small businesses they have opened, immigrants make New York the city that it is."

The report shows fascinating shifts in where immigrants call home. While Queens and Brooklyn still host the largest populations, new communities have blossomed in neighborhoods like Gravesend, East New York, and Springfield Gardens.

Flushing-Murray Hill in Queens remains the neighborhood with the highest immigrant population. East Flatbush, Corona, and Washington Heights round out the top five.

The Ripple Effect

The changes extend beyond numbers. China has now joined the Dominican Republic as the largest source of foreign-born New Yorkers, while Bangladesh climbed to seventh place overall.

Colombia and Ukraine entered the top 10 for the first time, reflecting New York's evolving role as a gateway for people from every corner of the globe. Two-thirds of all city residents are either immigrants themselves or children of immigrants.

Deputy Mayor Julia Kerson captured the spirit perfectly: "Every flavor you taste, every song you hear carry through the streets is a reminder that there is no New York City without immigrant New York City."

The city's steady immigrant population of 3.1 million people continues writing the next chapter of what makes New York truly New York.