Immigrant labor vital to Colorado hospitals is at risk

Immigrants make up 11% of Colorado's health care workforce, as revealed by KFF's analysis of census data. This statistic underscores the state's reliance on foreign-born labor amid a potential health care labor crisis. A White House immigration crackdown may worsen staffing shortages, coinciding with an aging population that will require increased medical care. Nationwide, 16% of hospital workers are immigrants, aligning with the national foreign-born workforce percentage. In some states, hospitals report that more than a quarter of their staff consists of naturalized citizens or noncitizen immigrants.

Colorado specifically faces a critical shortage of registered nurses, which experts believe needs immediate attention as the state's demographic shifts. Nationwide, nearly 30% of hospital cleaning and maintenance staff are immigrants, highlighting their vital role in health care. Prompt action is essential to ensure the state can meet its health care demands as the population continues to grow older.