By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE ratio of U.S. workers to “other workers,” which includes CNMI-only transitional workers in the Commonwealth workforce for tax year 2024, was 77-to-36, the CNMI Department of Labor reported.
This means that for every 77 U.S. workers, there are approximately 36 “other workers” in the Commonwealth’s labor force.
“Other workers” are those who have been lawfully admitted to the CNMI for employment but do not meet the definition of a U.S. worker. They include holders of CNMI-Only Transitional Worker or CW permits created by the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, Employment Authorization Document cards, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and citizens of the Freely Associated States.
The NMI U.S. Workforce Act of 2018 extended the CW-1 program through Dec. 31, 2029, aiming in part to increase the percentage of U.S. workers in the total CNMI workforce while maintaining the minimum number of foreign workers needed to meet the changing demands of the local economy.
The CNMI Department of Labor prepared the report in compliance with Public Law 115-218, the NMI U.S. Workforce Act of 2018, which requires the governor to submit an annual report to the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security no later than 60 days before the end of each calendar year. The report outlines the ratio of U.S. workers to “other workers” in the Commonwealth workforce based on income tax filings for tax year 2024.
According to the report, the analysis of workforce data not only meets the requirements set forth by the Workforce Act but also serves as a valuable tool for stakeholders in the CNMI. By providing a clear understanding of workforce composition and ratios, the report contributes to informed decision-making that can enhance economic stability and growth, CNMI DOL stated.
In the 2024 tax year, the CNMI workforce was predominantly composed of U.S. workers, accounting for 68% of the total workforce. Other workers — including foreign nationals and transitional workers — comprised the remaining 32%, reflecting the local economy’s continued reliance on non-U.S. labor.
CNMI DOL reported that the total number of U.S. workers in 2024 was 15,354. This figure included 12,790 U.S. citizens or nationals, 2,023 lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and 541 citizens from the FAS — the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
According to the report, there were 4,776 CWs in the CNMI.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office reported on Feb. 13, 2024, that “the numerical limits on CW-1 permits available each fiscal year have generally decreased over time, from 22,417 at the start of the program in 2011 to 14,500 in 2022.” From 2018 to 2022, the GAO noted, “the total number of workers in CNMI declined by over 5,000, and the number of CW-1 permits issued per year dropped significantly.”
The CNMI DOL report states that in tax year 2024, the majority of U.S. workers were U.S. citizens or nationals, making up 83% of the total U.S. worker population. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) accounted for 13%, while FAS citizens represented 4%. This distribution underscores the dominant presence of U.S. citizens and nationals in the workforce, with green card holders and FAS citizens making up smaller segments, CNMI DOL stated. This minimal share suggests that although the CNMI workforce is diverse, the employment landscape is heavily weighted toward U.S. citizens and nationals, it added.
At the peak of economic expansion in the 1990s, the CNMI’s workforce included some 30,000 guest workers.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
