Mon Apr 14 17:10:00 UTC 2025: ## California’s Immigrant Population Shifts: Asia Surpasses Latin America

**SACRAMENTO, CA** – California is experiencing a dramatic shift in its immigrant population, with arrivals from Asia now outnumbering those from Latin America, according to a new analysis of census data. This trend, driven by an increase in high-skilled workers entering the U.S. through the H-1B visa program, is reshaping the state’s workforce and economy.

Data reveals that in 2022, 46% of California’s immigrants were from Asia, compared to 38% from Latin America – a near reversal of the 1990 figures. This shift is largely attributed to the influx of skilled workers, primarily from India and China, filling crucial roles in technology and other knowledge-based industries. In 2023, 73% of H-1B visas went to Indian nationals and 12% to Chinese nationals. Nearly 79,000 H-1B visa holders arrived in California in 2024, many employed by tech giants like Google, Meta, and Apple.

While this influx of skilled labor meets the growing demand in certain sectors, experts warn of potential labor shortages in others due to a decline in lower-skilled immigration from Latin America. The Public Policy Institute of California notes that California remains home to the largest immigrant population in the U.S., with 10.6 million foreign-born residents, representing 27% of the state’s total population.

Experts suggest that potential future immigration policy changes could accelerate this trend, particularly if stricter border controls reduce lower-skilled immigration while the demand for H-1B workers remains high. The long-term consequences of this demographic shift on California’s economy and social fabric remain to be seen, but its impact is already being felt across various sectors.

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