The CNMI Department of Labor has released its annual workforce ratio report for Tax Year 2024, showing that United States workers made up a clear majority of the Commonwealth’s labor force, though the economy continues to rely heavily on foreign labor.
According to the report, based on W-2CM income tax filings, there were 22,730 individual workers in the CNMI in 2024. Of that total, 15,354 were classified as U.S. workers, while 7,281 were identified as foreign or “other” workers. Another 95 filers could not be categorized due to incomplete data.
The ratio translates to 77 U.S. workers for every 36 foreign workers, meaning U.S. workers accounted for 68 percent of the workforce, compared to 32 percent for foreign labor.
Most U.S. workers were citizens or nationals, totaling 12,790, while lawful permanent residents numbered 2,023 and citizens of the Freely Associated States — the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau — accounted for 541.
Among foreign workers, CW-1 transitional visa holders made up the largest share at 4,776, or 66 percent of the category. Employment Authorization Document holders accounted for 1,548, while smaller numbers were reported under E-2 investor visas, H-1B specialty occupation visas, and H-2B temporary labor visas.
The Department of Labor said the findings underscore both the predominance of U.S. citizens and nationals in the workforce and the Commonwealth’s continued dependence on foreign labor to meet economic demands.
The report was prepared in compliance with the Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act of 2018, which requires the governor to submit annual workforce ratio data to the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.
