Job Opportunities for Immigrants in the USA
I think the best way to start a career is first to understand what you want to do and have an idea of your options. Under this topic, we are going to see the various job opportunities that are there for you as an African immigrant. While researching this topic, I read somewhere where an immigrant said he’s interested in US politics and started by choosing a state where he has higher chances of becoming a politician. I am still following up on him, and one day, I will report his journey on this medium.
If you want to find the best job, you should know the options at your disposal. Therefore, in the following discussion, I will outline some job opportunities you can start eyeing. There is no limitation to what job you can get as an African immigrant in the US. I say this because I was an employee of the US government, and I know there is officially no job discrimination. Even if you want to become the president of the United States, as long as you can meet the requirements for the office and present yourself for election and be accepted by the people, “welcome Mr. or Madam President.” If you ask me? The sky is your limit as an immigrant, but as I mentioned earlier, you have to change your mindset as an immigrant and stop going after jobs that would only make you work for less.
Available statistics from the US Department of Labor say 16.7% of the employed workforce in America employees are immigrants. Therefore, the following job categories are possible places for African immigrants to pick an interest and work for its attainment:
• Law: Employment statistics show that a paltry 0.4% of foreign-born is in the US legal service. There are several opportunities in this area that the African immigrants can go for including lawyers, law clerks, and even judges and several other legal and paralegal services. What you need is the right qualifications, and you can start now.
• Community and social services: Currently, there is less than 1% of the employment of foreign-born workers. This means you can pick up jobs as counselors, social workers, correctional officers, and even clergy. The society needs lots of qualified personnel to handle everyday social and community challenges. You can make yourself available for such jobs by starting a skill conversion program to land such jobs.
• First responders: If there is one thing that American society needs more than anything else are the first responders. When people are in trouble, they need people to come to their rescue, and records show that only 0.9% of foreign-born workers are currently engaged. This means you can think of becoming a police officer, firefighter, security guards, animal control officers, and even a personal investigator. These positions need the right qualifications and records show that African immigrants are the most read immigrants in the US and elsewhere in the world.
• Scientists: Records about immigrants in the US present African immigrants as the group with the most graduates. I am from Nigeria, and I know what this brain drain is causing us in medical, research, and technology services. I do know many of you reading this piece are graduates of different disciplines. You can enlist in retraining or advanced programs to become scientists helping to solve problems confronting society. Currently, there are less than 1.5% of foreign-born workers as scientists in the US.
• Farmers, foresters, and fishers: If there is an area, African immigrants should be more visible in this area. But currently, there are less than 2% of foreign-born workers working in this sector. Possible jobs to take up are animal breeders, loggers, farmers, fishers, and hunters. The best way to hunt for this job is to live in an agrarian state.
• Athletes, artists, and entertainers: Apart from what we individually study in universities, one intrinsic quality ofAfrican Business in many Africans is creativity and sport. While working some jobs to survive, why not set aside some time to develop your artistic and sporting talent and pick a career that may see you become a star in America? Currently, there are less than 2% of foreign-born workers in these sectors in America. Yet, most African immigrants with excellent creative ability got it killed by working for less and lose their God-given talents.
• Architects and engineers: Available stats show there are about 2.2% of foreign workers in this sector. You can get the training, qualification, and license to practice as engineers and architect in the US and earn better pay.
• Health care support: I know many Nigerians are currently undergoing nursing training at various levels of practice, yet official records show there are less than 3% of foreign-born workers in health services. This a wake up call for African immigrants to rise to the occasion and get into the system.
• Teachers and librarians: African immigrants are educated people; you need to count on your high level of education and increase the number of foreign workers that are currently put at 3.5%.
• Mechanics and technicians: It worries me when a practicing mechanic leaves African soil only to get to America and become construction labor. What is required is to take the US technician training and pass the exam to become a practicing technician. Currently, only 3 % of foreign workers are currently in the trade.
• Accountant and financial experts: There is no other place in the world where this job requirement is more in demand. There are several ICAN graduates from Nigeria who are lost in the hospitality business as bartender and services boys. What you need to continue your practice in the US is recertification. The bright side is, it is not a hard nut to crack if you give it a try and join the less than 4% foreign-born workers in the field.
• Food service industry: This is currently this sector ranks among the highest employment providers for foreign workers coming at 7.1%. While I do not think this should be the pursuit for African immigrants to venture as employees, there is the entrepreneur side that promotes African hospitality industry in the US by opening African restaurants and provides first level employment for fellow African immigrants.
• The final job areas to consider include administrative works, production, management, maintenance, sales, marketing, transportation, personal services, programmers and mathematicians, and many others you can develop by intuition.
While most of these jobs would require the immigrants to be documented, there are jobs you can seek if you have not perfected your papers. The following discussion will give you an insight into jobs for undocumented immigrants.
