A profile of American Indians and Alaska Natives in the U.S. labor force

Abstract

In this article, I examine the labor force characteristics of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) during the 2019–21 period by using data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). AIANs typically have a younger age profile, a higher unemployment rate, and a lower labor force participation rate than the overall U.S. population. In addition, the unemployment rate is higher for AIANs who live in an AIAN area—a federal or state American Indian reservation or off-reservation trust land, tribal statistical area, or Alaska Native village statistical area—than for AIANs who live elsewhere.