North Dakota labor shortage represents one of America’s most severe workforce crises, with the state having only 30 workers available for every 100 open jobs – well below the national average of 95 workers per 100 jobs. This dramatic shortage has forced companies across the state to fundamentally rethink their hiring strategies, turning to immigrant workers as essential partners in economic growth rather than competitors for limited opportunities.
The crisis is particularly acute in Fargo, where Cardinal Glass employs about 400 workers in its manufacturing facility. With 70% of its workforce comprised of people born outside the United States, the company has become a model for how businesses can successfully integrate immigrant workers into their operations while maintaining high productivity and quality standards.
The labor shortage in North Dakota isn’t just a local problem – it reflects broader demographic trends affecting the entire United States. As the baby boomer generation retires and birth rates decline, the country faces a fundamental mismatch between available workers and job openings that immigration alone can address.
This situation has created a unique opportunity for immigrant workers who are often overlooked in other parts of the country. In North Dakota, they’re not just welcomed – they’re essential to the state’s economic survival and growth.
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The Numbers: A Crisis in Perspective
The statistics paint a stark picture of North Dakota’s labor crisis. With 30,000 open jobs across the state and only 30 workers available for every 100 positions, the shortage is more than just a temporary inconvenience – it’s a fundamental threat to economic growth and stability.
The situation is so severe that even if every high school and college graduate, every individual coming out of the correctional system, and every person on disability entered the workforce tomorrow, there would still be thousands of open jobs remaining. This mathematical reality forces the state to look beyond its borders for solutions.
The Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area exemplifies the extreme nature of this shortage. With a 72% workforce participation rate – the highest in the country – and a 1.2% unemployment rate, the region has essentially reached full employment. For every unemployed worker, there are 2.4 open jobs, creating an unprecedented demand for labor.
This shortage affects every industry in the state, from manufacturing and agriculture to healthcare and technology. The US Chamber of Commerce reports that labor shortages affect just about every industry in nearly every state, with over 8 million job openings nationwide and fewer than 7 million people looking for work.
The demographic trends driving this shortage are long-term and structural. As the population ages and birth rates remain low, the working-age population is shrinking relative to the total population. This creates a fundamental mismatch between labor supply and demand that can only be addressed through immigration or automation.
Cardinal Glass: A Model of Integration
Cardinal Glass in Fargo provides a compelling case study of how companies can successfully navigate the labor shortage by embracing immigrant workers. The company’s approach demonstrates that cultural and linguistic barriers can be overcome with proper training and support systems.
The company has developed a sophisticated multilingual training program that allows new employees to contribute immediately, regardless of their English proficiency. Master trainers who speak multiple languages can onboard new workers in their native language, ensuring that language barriers don’t prevent productive employment.
This approach has created a diverse, inclusive workplace where 70% of employees were born outside the United States. The company’s success demonstrates that immigrant workers aren’t just filling jobs – they’re contributing to a thriving, productive workplace culture that benefits everyone.
The company’s commitment to immigrant workers extends beyond hiring. It actively sponsors employees for permanent residency and works to help them navigate the complex immigration system. This investment in workers’ long-term stability pays dividends in terms of retention and productivity.
Cardinal Glass’s experience shows that companies that embrace immigrant workers can gain a significant competitive advantage. By tapping into a broader talent pool and creating an inclusive workplace culture, they can address labor shortages while building stronger, more resilient organizations.
The Power of Supporting Immigrant Workers
Companies that sponsor and support immigrant workers gain more than employees — they build loyalty, stability, and resilience. Employers can follow this model to expand their talent pool and strengthen retention. Post your job on WhatJobs today and connect with skilled immigrant workers ready to contribute and grow with your business.
Post a Job Free for 30 Days →The Immigration Policy Challenge
The success of companies like Cardinal Glass highlights the disconnect between immigration policy and economic reality. While the state desperately needs workers, federal immigration policies often create barriers rather than solutions.
The Trump administration’s deportation of over 350,000 immigrants has had minimal direct impact on Cardinal Glass because most of its workers are legal immigrants. However, the uncertainty surrounding programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) creates ongoing challenges for both employers and workers.
Joseph Flurry, a Haitian worker at Cardinal Glass, exemplifies this uncertainty. Having worked in the United States since 2010 under TPS, he faces the prospect of being forced to return to Haiti in February 2026, despite the dangerous conditions in his home country.
The TPS program, which provides temporary legal status to nationals of countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions, has become a lifeline for many workers. However, the program’s temporary nature creates uncertainty for both workers and employers who depend on them.
The challenge for policymakers is to create immigration pathways that meet economic needs while maintaining security and control. The current system often fails to provide clear, predictable paths for workers who are essential to the economy.
The Economic Impact: Growth vs. Shortage
Despite the labor shortage, North Dakota’s economy continues to grow, driven in part by immigrant workers who have become essential to the state’s economic success. This growth creates a positive feedback loop, attracting more workers and businesses to the region.
The economic benefits of immigrant workers extend far beyond filling job openings. They contribute to local tax revenues, support local businesses, and help create vibrant, diverse communities that attract additional investment and talent.
Cardinal Glass pays wages that are 45% above the national average for light industrial workers, demonstrating that immigrant workers aren’t being exploited – they’re being compensated fairly for their contributions. This high-wage strategy helps attract workers from other regions while supporting local economic growth.
The company’s success in attracting workers from across the country and around the world demonstrates that North Dakota can compete for talent when it offers competitive wages and good working conditions. However, the labor shortage remains so severe that even these efforts aren’t sufficient to meet demand.
The economic impact of the labor shortage extends beyond individual companies. When businesses can’t find workers, they may be forced to reduce production, delay expansion, or even relocate to areas with more available labor. This creates a competitive disadvantage for the state and its communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
North Dakota labor shortage – how severe is it?
North Dakota has America’s worst labor shortage with only 30 workers available for every 100 open jobs, compared to the national average of 95 workers per 100 jobs, creating 30,000 unfilled positions across the state.
How are companies like Cardinal Glass addressing the labor shortage?
Cardinal Glass addresses the labor shortage by hiring immigrant workers (70% of workforce), providing multilingual training programs, offering competitive wages 45% above national average, and actively sponsoring employees for permanent residency.
What role do immigrant workers play in North Dakota’s economy?
Immigrant workers are essential to North Dakota’s economy, filling critical job openings, contributing to local tax revenues, supporting businesses, and helping create vibrant communities that attract additional investment and talent.
How does the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program affect workers?
TPS provides temporary legal status for workers from countries experiencing crises, but its temporary nature creates uncertainty for both workers and employers, with some facing potential deportation despite dangerous conditions in their home countries
What is North Dakota’s Office of Legal Immigration doing?Â
The Office of Legal Immigration proactively identifies appropriate pathways and programs to help fill jobs, connects employers with qualified workers, and focuses on legal immigration rather than addressing border or illegal immigration issues.
What are the long-term implications of North Dakota’s labor shortage?Â
North Dakota’s labor shortage previews challenges facing the entire US as demographic trends reshape the workforce, requiring comprehensive solutions including immigration reform, workforce development, and economic policy to support growth.
A Real-World Example: The Immigrant Worker’s Journey
Y moved from South Sudan to Fargo 14 years ago seeking a better life and has been working at Cardinal Glass since 2013. “You can work in glass without no experience, without no English,” she explains. “Good for the immigrant and anyone in need job.”
Y’s journey exemplifies the opportunities that North Dakota’s labor shortage has created for immigrant workers. Starting as a machine technician making window spots, she has built a successful career in manufacturing while contributing to her community.
“Have many immigrant. We work like a family and friend and teamwork and we help we support each other,” Y says. Her experience highlights how immigrant workers create supportive workplace cultures that benefit everyone.
Y’s story demonstrates that the labor shortage has created opportunities for workers who might be overlooked in other parts of the country. In North Dakota, immigrant workers are not just filling jobs – they’re building careers and contributing to economic growth.
The support system at Cardinal Glass has been crucial to Y’s success. The company’s multilingual training programs and inclusive culture have helped her and other immigrant workers thrive in their roles.
Y’s advice to other immigrant workers reflects the lessons she’s learned. “Don’t be afraid to start,” she says. “The company will help you learn and grow. We work together as a team, and everyone supports each other.”
Y’s story demonstrates that North Dakota’s labor shortage, while challenging, has created opportunities for immigrant workers to build successful careers while contributing to the state’s economic growth. Her experience shows that with proper support and training, immigrant workers can become valuable contributors to American businesses and communities.
Don’t Let Labor Shortages Limit Your Growth
North Dakota’s labor shortage crisis offers valuable lessons for businesses and communities across the country. The state’s experience demonstrates that immigrant workers can be essential partners in economic growth when proper support systems are in place.
The key to success is recognizing that labor shortages are a long-term challenge that requires innovative solutions. Companies that embrace diversity and inclusion can gain significant competitive advantages while addressing workforce needs.
For businesses facing labor shortages, the solution isn’t just to find more workers – it’s to create workplaces that can successfully integrate and develop workers from diverse backgrounds. This requires investment in training, support systems, and inclusive cultures.
The future of work will require businesses to be more flexible and inclusive in their hiring practices. Those that can successfully integrate workers from diverse backgrounds will be better positioned to compete in an increasingly global economy.
