Marketplace All-in-One The link between immigration and longer life
Feb 24, 2026
Brian McGarry, a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, links immigrant healthcare workers to lower mortality among older Americans. He discusses how increased immigration boosts staffing of nurses and aides. He explains connections between staffing, keeping seniors out of nursing homes, and longer life. The conversation also covers estimates of lives potentially saved by higher immigration.
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Immigration Lowers Senior Mortality
- Immigration increases the supply of frontline health workers and improves elderly mortality outcomes in the U.S..
- A 25% rise in immigrant flows is estimated to prevent about 5,000 deaths among adults 65+ by boosting aides, nurses and support staff capacity.
Immigration Crowds In Healthcare Jobs
- New immigrants crowd in additional healthcare jobs rather than displacing domestic workers, increasing overall caregiver capacity.
- The paper estimates 1,000 extra immigrants lead to about 173 more health care workers, including domestic hires created by expanded roles.
Caregivers Help Seniors Age In Place
- Much of the mortality benefit comes from enabling older adults to age in place and reducing nursing home risks.
- Low-skilled immigrant caregivers deliver hands-on elder care that reduces congregate-setting infections and may improve nursing home quality.