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Data: Pew Research Center and Census Bureau; Chart: Axios Visuals

Undocumented immigrants accounted for less than 3% of Utah's population as of 2021, per a new Pew Research Center analysis.

That's compared to about 3.1% in 2019, and nearly 4% in 2005.

Zoom out: There were 10.5 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. as of 2021, per Pew.

That's up slightly from 2019, but down from a high of 12.2 million in 2007.

How it works: The estimates are based on census, immigration and refugee admission data.

Yes, but: Pew's estimates "do not reflect changes that have occurred since apprehensions and expulsions of migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border started increasing in March 2021," the organization notes.

The big picture: The undocumented population in the U.S. is growing more diverse.

There were an estimated 4.1 million Mexicans living in the U.S. without authorization in 2021, accounting for 39% of the undocumented population — the lowest share in recent history.

Geopolitical conflicts, climate change and more sophisticated smuggling networks are driving more migrants from Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Asia, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa to make dangerous journeys to the U.S. despite few legal options for entry.

What they're saying: "There are more unauthorized Mexicans (migrants) going back to Mexico than coming," Jeffrey Passel, a senior demographer at Pew Research Center and author of the report, told Russell.

That decrease comes amid improved conditions and lower birth rates in Mexico, Passel added.

What we're watching: Immigration is expected to be a crucial issue in the 2024 presidential election, thanks in part to the surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

That's led to blowback against the Biden administration from both sides of the political spectrum and fueled increasingly harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Charted: Utah's undocumented population declines

Immigration is expected to be a crucial issue in the 2024 presidential election, thanks in part to the surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Immigration

Undocumented immigrants accounted for less than 3% of Utah&#x27;s population as of 2021, per a new Pew Research Center <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/16/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/" data-vars-content-id="53dc7c6b-5071-4023-bc47-e091160d5746" data-vars-headline="Charted: Utah&#x27;s undocumented population declines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/16/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/" target="_blank">analysis</a>.<ul><li>That&#x27;s compared to about 3.1% in 2019, and nearly 4% in 2005.</li></ul>

News

Politics

NW Arkansas

Axios Northwest Arkansas

Data: Square; Note: Earnings include base wages, tips and overtime; Chart: Axios Visuals

Year-over-year wage growth for restaurant workers in Northwest Arkansas rose by 5.6% in October — up from 4.2% in September, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Alice Feng report.

That's down from a peak of 39% in November 2018.

The data comes by way of Square's new third-quarter restaurant industry report and includes base wages, tips and overtime.

The big picture: Nationally, restaurant workers' wage growth has slipped considerably since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, falling below even prepandemic rates.

Restaurant workers' wages grew 4.9% year over year nationwide in October 2023.

That's slowed from peak growth of 10.5% in December 2021, when the average base wage was $12.60 and average hourly earnings were $15.85.

Why it matters: It's a sign that restaurants are no longer quite as desperate for workers as they were late in the pandemic era, when many struggled to replace employees who had left for other industries.

It's also a reflection of inflation's impact on restaurants and consumers alike.

Driving the news: Restaurant costs are up due in part to inflation, while consumers are often loath to pay higher prices because they're also getting hit with higher costs on basically everything in life.

Discretionary spending on dining out often goes first when times get a little tougher — and tips may be shrinking, especially amid a growing sense of "tipping fatigue."

🧮 Be smart: Wage growth is best considered alongside inflation — if your wage grows 3% but so does inflation, your wage didn't really grow at all.

The inflation rate was 3.2% in October 2023. (Of course, everybody experiences inflation differently.)

Restaurant wage growth in Northwest Arkansas better than U.S. average

Year-over-year wage growth for restaurant workers in Northwest Arkansas rose 5.6% in October, from 4.2% in September.

Northwest Arkansas

Year-over-year wage growth for restaurant workers in Northwest Arkansas rose by 5.6% in October — up from 4.2% in September, Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick and Alice Feng report.<ul><li>That&#x27;s down from a peak of 39% in November 2018.</li><li>The data comes by way of Square&#x27;s new third-quarter restaurant industry<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" report" data-vars-click-url="https://squareup.com/us/en/press/restaurant-industry-report-post-pandemic-dining-traffic-stabilizes" data-vars-content-id="6a4a6976-c06d-4a2d-ae8e-830b0dd8937a" data-vars-headline="Restaurant wage growth in Northwest Arkansas better than U.S. average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://squareup.com/us/en/press/restaurant-industry-report-post-pandemic-dining-traffic-stabilizes" target="_blank"> report</a> and includes base wages, tips and overtime.</li></ul>

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National

Restaurant workers' wage growth has slipped considerably since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, falling below even pre-pandemic rates.

That's per Square's new third quarter restaurant industry report, and includes base wages, tips and overtime.

Why it matters: It's a sign that restaurants are no longer quite as desperate for workers as they were during the late pandemic era, when many struggled to replace employees who had left for other industries during the pandemic slowdown.

By the numbers: Restaurant workers' wages grew 4.9% year over year in October 2023.

That's slowed from peak growth of 10.5% in December 2021, when the average base wage was $12.60 and average hourly earnings totaled $15.85.

Driving the news: Restaurants' costs are up due in part to inflation, while consumers are often loath to pay higher prices because they're also getting hit with higher costs on basically everything in life.

Discretionary spending on dining out is often the first thing to go when times get a little tougher — and tips may be shrinking, especially amid a growing sense of "tipping fatigue."

Be smart: Wage growth is best considered alongside inflation — if your wage grows 3% but so does inflation, your wage didn't really grow at all.

The inflation rate was 3.2% in October 2023. (Of course, everybody experiences inflation differently.)

Between the lines: Some of what's happening here is also being driven by the fact that most of America's downtowns still haven't fully recovered from the pandemic — meaning there are fewer people visiting bars and restaurants in many cities, and thus fewer bills and tips.

"Compared to January 2019, downtown neighborhoods in American cities appear to have flatlined at roughly 72% of their pre-pandemic activity as of the end of September 2023," per Square's report.

Yes, but: Restaurant workers in some cities are thriving, comparatively speaking.

Cincinnati, Las Vegas and Jacksonville all saw particularly notable wage growth in October, per Square.

Vegas also happens to have more foot traffic now than it did pre-pandemic, per separate research based on mobile device activity — so no doubt revived tourism is driving a relatively healthy restaurant business there as people flock to casinos, Golden Knights games and The Sphere.

The golden age of restaurant worker wage growth is over

Restaurant workers' wage growth has slipped considerably since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restaurants

Columbus

Axios Columbus

Data: Census Bureau; Chart: Alice Feng/Axios

Columbus workers spent less time getting to work than the national average before the pandemic — and we still come out ahead, even as commute times have dropped nationwide.

Why it matters: Quicker commutes are tied to better mental health, greater job satisfaction and a host of other personal benefits. They're also better for the environment.

Meanwhile, city leaders have long touted our shorter commute times as an economic development advantage.

By the numbers: About 70% of Columbus workers reported a commute of under 30 minutes in 2022, up from just over 65% in 2019, per a new Axios analysis of census data.

That's above the national average of 63% of Americans who commuted less than 30 minutes in 2022.

Zoom in: Just 4.3% of Columbus workers spent an hour or more commuting in 2022 — about half of the nationwide average.

What's happening: Remote and hybrid work is persisting in large, fast-growing places like Columbus, with a high population of young people and jobs that lend themselves to flexibility.

That means fewer cars on the road, less traffic and quicker commutes.

Be smart: The number of Columbus-area workers who commute to a physical job location dropped by 12% between 2019-2022, even as our workforce grew 1.8% during the same time, per census data.

Between the lines: A "Great Reshuffling" over the past few years led many Americans to move or find new jobs — or both — as they began prioritizing shorter commutes in favor of more personal or family time.

Of note: Our findings don't include employees who work from home and thus have a commute time of zero minutes.

😉 Our thought bubble: Hey, the journey from the bed, to the coffeemaker, to the couch sometimes takes a few minutes!

Columbus enjoys shorter-than-average commutes

Remote and hybrid work is persisting in large, fast-growing places like Columbus.

Transportation

Columbus workers spent less time getting to work than the national average before the pandemic — and we still come out ahead, even as commute times have dropped nationwide.Why it matters: Quicker commutes <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="are tied to" data-vars-click-url="https://hbr.org/2021/05/that-dreaded-commute-is-actually-good-for-your-health" data-vars-content-id="be96800d-cb5e-4ba0-9bc1-f00e30c46154" data-vars-headline="Columbus enjoys shorter-than-average commutes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://hbr.org/2021/05/that-dreaded-commute-is-actually-good-for-your-health" target="_blank">are tied to</a> better mental health, greater job satisfaction and a host of other personal benefits. They&#x27;re also better for the environment.

Transit

San Francisco

Restaurant workers' wage growth has slipped considerably since the peak of COVID-19, falling below even pre-pandemic rates, a new report finds.

State of play: Year-over-year wage growth for restaurant workers in the San Francisco metro area rose slightly to 4.6% in October, from 3.6% in September. But that's down from a peak of 9.1% in April 2018, though growth crossed the 8% mark in 2020 and 2022.

The data comes by way of Square's new third-quarter restaurant industry report, and includes base wages, tips and overtime.

The big picture: Nationally, restaurant workers' wages grew 4.9% year over year nationwide in October.

Why it matters: Restaurant workers in the Bay have long struggled to keep pace with the region's high costs of living. The pandemic fueled a wave of resignations in the sector as restaurants sought to retain and recruit employees.

In San Francisco, the number of people who work in food services or food handling dropped 55% from 2019 to 2022, according to a San Francisco Chronicle analysis of census data.

In a bid to ensure more equitable pay across staff, several restaurants in the city are trying to move away from tipping and instead raise prices or add a flat surcharge to final bills.

Some food services employees in the Bay have also turned to strikes to win raises and better benefits.

Of note: The city raised the minimum wage from $16.99 to $18.07 in July — the largest increase in eight years.

Minimum wage for food workers in California will also increase to $20 per hour starting in April under legislation signed into law in September.

Driving the news: Restaurants' costs are up in part because of inflation, and consumers are often reluctant to pay higher prices because they're also getting hit with higher costs elsewhere.

Be smart: Wage growth is best considered alongside inflation, which was 3.2% in October. If your salary didn't increase beyond that, your wage didn't really grow at all.

Of course, everybody experiences inflation differently.

San Francisco's restaurant worker wage growth on decline

Restaurant workers in the Bay Area have long struggled to keep pace with the region's high costs of living.

Restaurant workers&#x27; wage growth has slipped considerably since the peak of COVID-19, falling below even pre-pandemic rates, a new report finds.State of play: Year-over-year wage growth for restaurant workers in the San Francisco metro area rose slightly to 4.6% in October, from 3.6% in September. But that&#x27;s down from a peak of 9.1% in April 2018, though growth crossed the 8% mark in 2020 and 2022.

Alice Feng

Stories

San Francisco's restaurant worker wage growth on decline

Restaurant wage growth in Northwest Arkansas better than U.S. average

The golden age of restaurant worker wage growth is over

Columbus enjoys shorter-than-average commutes

Charted: Utah's undocumented population declines