Immigration Linked to Fewer Elderly Deaths: Study
Why this is here: The study connects an increase in immigrants directly to a measurable health outcome—a reduction in elderly deaths—by quantifying the impact of foreign-born workers on the long-term care system.
Adding 1,000 immigrants to a metropolitan area reduces elderly mortality by approximately 10 deaths, according to new research. The study, from Harvard, MIT, and Rochester, attributes this to an influx of foreign-born healthcare workers. These workers address a critical nationwide shortage in the healthcare field, particularly in long-term care.
Researchers found that 1,000 new immigrants correlate with 142 additional foreign-born healthcare workers. This increase does not displace existing American workers but expands the workforce. The study also shows no evidence that increased immigration depresses wages in the healthcare sector.
The research builds on prior work examining the long-term care workforce during the pandemic. Approximately 18% of all U.S. healthcare workers are immigrants, including 20% in nursing homes and 33% in home care. A 25% national increase in immigration could reduce elderly mortality by about 5,000.