Key Takeaways
• Foreign interest in U.S. jobs has dropped to 2019 pre-pandemic levels, especially affecting healthcare staffing.
• U.S. job market is cooling, with fewer openings but steady demand in healthcare and construction sectors.
• Healthcare faces longer vacancies and heavier workloads as fewer foreign applicants reduce workforce diversity and capacity.
Foreign Interest in U.S. Jobs: An In-depth Look at Current Trends and What They Mean for Healthcare and the Workforce
Introduction
Foreign interest in U.S. jobs is a major factor that shapes the country’s workforce. When people from other countries want to work in the United States 🇺🇸, this helps fill important gaps in industries that struggle to find enough workers. For years, American businesses have relied on workers from abroad, especially in fields like healthcare, to keep up with demand and make sure people receive proper care and support. However, new data from Indeed shows that foreign interest in U.S. jobs has recently fallen, returning to the same low levels seen in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
This report explores the change in foreign interest in U.S. jobs, what it means for the American labor market—especially for healthcare—and what may happen if the trend continues. The data and facts used in this report come directly from recent Indeed and labor research sources published in late 2024, as listed in the references section. The analysis covers the job market climate from before the pandemic (2019) through the pandemic period and into 2024, with a look at what’s expected in 2025.
Key Findings Summary
- Foreign interest in U.S. jobs has dropped to 2019—the pre-pandemic—levels.
- This drop comes after a temporary increase in foreign job seekers following COVID-19.
- Healthcare, a sector with constant worker shortages, may be especially affected.
– The overall U.S. job market is cooling, with fewer job openings than at the peak but steady needs in some fields. - If foreign interest remains low, American companies may have an even harder time filling jobs, which can impact patient care and business growth.
Foreign Interest in U.S. Jobs: Recent Uptick Followed by Sharp Drop
Foreign interest means how many people living outside the United States 🇺🇸 search for jobs, apply, and show serious intent to work in the country. According to the latest Indeed data, this foreign interest, after a noticeable rise during the pandemic when more people looked for jobs online and considered moving, has now fallen back to what it was before the pandemic. During the pandemic, borders closed, and opportunities changed quickly, so many skilled workers began to look for openings in stable countries like the United States 🇺🇸. As a result, the number of people from abroad seeking U.S. jobs increased in 2020 and 2021.
However, the most recent data from 2024 tells a different story. As reported by VisaVerge.com, there is now a marked decline. The number of foreign job seekers is at the same rate as in 2019, before COVID-19 began. This change is surprising to many, especially because many expected the number to keep rising as the world economy recovered from the pandemic.
If we looked at a chart of foreign job applications from 2019 to 2024, we would see a rise peaking after the pandemic, followed by a gradual return to 2019 levels by late 2024. This return to earlier levels means American companies are once again dealing with limited access to workers from outside the country.
Implications for Healthcare and Other Key Industries
Some American industries depend heavily on foreign-born talent, with healthcare at the top of the list. Hospitals, clinics, rural health centers, and long-term care homes have always had trouble finding enough nurses, doctors, and technicians. Foreign-trained or foreign-born workers have helped close this gap, especially in places far from big cities.
Now, with foreign interest in U.S. jobs dropping, healthcare providers face even more trouble. Fewer applicants from abroad means longer times to fill job openings, heavier workloads for current workers, and possible risks to patient care. For instance, a hospital in a rural area may find it difficult to staff its night shift for nurses or may struggle to find enough physical therapists. This can cause burnout among current workers and make it hard for patients to get timely help.
The healthcare challenge goes beyond hospitals. Home health agencies, urgent care clinics, and nursing homes also feel the pressure. While local hiring can help, there are not always enough qualified people in the area to fill every open role. Foreign workers bring skills, experience, and willingness to serve in tough-to-fill jobs, and their reduced presence is felt by patients and healthcare teams alike.
Other industries that hire large numbers of foreign workers include technology, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. For example, technology firms may find it harder to bring in software engineers or data specialists, while farms might struggle to find enough seasonal workers to pick crops. But among all these fields, healthcare’s need remains the most pressing because it deals directly with people’s health and well-being every single day.
U.S. Labor Market Trends: Cooling with Pockets of Demand
Indeed’s data shows the broader U.S. labor market is “cooling.” That means there are fewer total job openings than during the peak years of 2021 and 2022, when businesses rushed to hire as the economy reopened. The number of job postings and open positions—often called “vacancies”—has gone down, showing that some companies have filled their urgent needs or are slowing down their growth. However, the demand for workers is not the same everywhere.
Some fields, like construction and healthcare, continue to list many job openings and need new workers. For example, construction projects across the country and the ongoing demand for healthcare professionals mean that these sectors have not slowed as much as others. These “pockets of demand,” or areas where the need for workers remains steady, mean there is still competition for qualified people.
When foreign interest in U.S. jobs falls, these in-demand fields feel the effects more. With fewer international job seekers applying, the competition for local workers becomes more intense. American employers in healthcare and construction may need to try harder to find and keep talent, possibly offering better pay or extra perks that they would not have considered before.
Comparing Foreign Interest: 2019, Post-Pandemic, and 2024
To grasp how foreign interest in U.S. jobs has changed, it helps to look at three key periods: pre-pandemic (2019), post-pandemic surge (2020–2022), and the current period (late 2024).
- In 2019, foreign interest was steady but not high. Many U.S. companies faced routine challenges in filling open roles, turning to the global labor pool to find talent, especially in healthcare.
- During the pandemic and for a short time after, more people from other countries looked for work in the United States 🇺🇸, hoping for stability and better pay. This “surge” meant employers had more choices, and some shortages became easier to handle.
- By late 2024, the number of foreign job seekers has slipped back to 2019 levels. The additional applicants from abroad are no longer there in large numbers.
This shift can be shown in a simple line graph: from 2019, a steady line rises sharply after the pandemic, then drops back to where it started. The fall is clear, and it has real consequences for American workplaces, especially in sectors where foreign workers make up a big part of the team.
Factors Behind the Decline
Why has foreign interest in U.S. jobs dropped? Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests several possible reasons. Border controls and travel rules that lingered after COVID-19 may still make it hard for people to move. Changing immigration policies and slower visa processing times can also keep some workers away.
In addition, the economic recovery in other countries may mean that staying at home is now more attractive. Some people may see better job options without having to leave family or adjust to a new place. If U.S. jobs are not offering better pay or simpler visa rules than before, the draw for foreign talent weakens.
Another possible factor is the public conversation about immigration. If people see headlines about tighter rules or less friendly attitudes toward newcomers, they may not even try to apply. Even if U.S. laws haven’t changed much, these signals can shape how many people show interest in working in the United States 🇺🇸.
Impact on the Labor Market and U.S. Economy
A decline in foreign interest in U.S. jobs means more pressure on the local talent pool. For example, if foreign nurses are less likely to apply for jobs in the United States 🇺🇸, the same number of local nurses and recent graduates must fill all open roles in hospitals and clinics. This is hard because even before the decline, there was a shortage of qualified healthcare workers in many places.
A tighter labor pool can drive up wages as businesses compete for fewer applicants, and it can delay hiring in critical fields. Companies might also reduce growth plans if they cannot find people for key jobs. This slowing growth may show up in less innovation, reduced patient care quality, or longer wait times at clinics—all of which can affect daily life for many people.
Still, the broader U.S. economy is described as “resilient.” Current job trends suggest that, even with the cooling market and slower foreign interest, the economy is not shrinking. In fact, sources point to a “soft landing”—an economic term meaning growth slows but does not stop or move into recession—as the most likely path in 2025. That means businesses, including those in healthcare, may need to adjust their hiring practices and rely more on training local talent if foreign interest remains down.
Implications for U.S. Immigration Policy
With foreign interest in U.S. jobs at its lowest since the pandemic, there’s growing attention on immigration policy. In the past, immigration provided a steady source of new workers and helped keep the economy growing. Based on the referenced labor research, there are signs that future immigration could slow even more, due to changing rules or global events.
Slower immigration is not just about fewer workers; it can mean less innovation and fewer new ideas in the workplace. Fields like healthcare often benefit from international workers who bring different training, language skills, and new approaches to care.
Employers and policy makers may need to look at ways to encourage more foreign talent to apply. This could mean making the visa process faster, easing paperwork rules, or offering more support to people who want to move and start new jobs. For more details about visa and work permit options in the United States, visit the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
Limitations of the Data
It is important to remember that the data on foreign interest in U.S. jobs comes from job posting and application statistics from Indeed and similar online platforms. This means the numbers may not include people who apply directly through company websites or other channels. In addition, the data covers only the period up to late 2024, so sudden changes in early 2025 will not be captured here.
Also, “foreign interest” is measured by job searches and applications, not by actual hires or final visa approvals. Some people may search for jobs but decide not to submit an application, or they may be unable to complete the visa process even if a company makes an offer.
Key Takeaways and Potential Future Trends
The return of foreign interest in U.S. jobs to 2019 levels marks a major shift for the American workforce, with special effects in healthcare and other high-need sectors. If the trend continues, hospitals, clinics, and other businesses may need to find new ways to attract workers—raising pay, improving working conditions, or investing in local training programs.
At the same time, U.S. immigration policy and how job seekers abroad feel about moving to America will play a big role in what comes next. Healthcare and other employers may need to speak up more about what they need from lawmakers.
While the labor market has cooled, the demand for workers in healthcare and construction remains steady. The United States 🇺🇸 economy is showing steady strength, but keeping vital sectors like healthcare fully staffed will require ongoing attention to both local and foreign job seekers.
Methodology
The analysis in this report is based on data from leading online job platforms such as Indeed, as well as recent labor market reports from December 2024. The data includes the number of searches, applications, and job postings in the United States 🇺🇸, broken down by industry, time period, and job type. Discussions of trends and potential causes reflect this source material and were cross-referenced with labor market analysis from VisaVerge.com and relevant governmental sources.
Conclusion
Foreign interest in U.S. jobs has a direct impact on important areas like healthcare, construction, and technology. The current drop back to pre-pandemic levels signals possible shortages and new challenges for companies and the people who count on their services. As conditions change, it will be important for both employers and lawmakers to watch these numbers, listen to the needs of industries like healthcare, and respond quickly to keep the U.S. workforce strong and capable.
Learn Today
Foreign Interest → The level of job search and application activity from people living outside the United States, seeking U.S. employment.
Labor Market → The environment and conditions where employers hire workers and job seekers look for job opportunities, reflecting economic trends.
Visa Processing → The official steps and paperwork required by foreign nationals to obtain legal permission to work in the United States.
Workforce Shortage → A situation where there are more open jobs than qualified candidates available, especially in sectors like healthcare.
Resilient Economy → An economy that continues steady growth or stability despite changing market conditions and external pressures, like fewer foreign workers.
This Article in a Nutshell
Foreign interest in U.S. jobs, especially in healthcare, has returned to pre-pandemic lows. This affects hospitals, clinics, and other sectors that depend on foreign talent. U.S. employers now face greater challenges filling key roles, risking worker shortages, burnout, and slower innovation unless immigration and recruitment policies adapt quickly.
— By VisaVerge.com
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