For years, international migration has been a primary engine of American population growth, compensating for a declining rate of “natural change”—the difference between births and deaths. This has immediate implications for the labor market, particularly in sectors like agriculture, construction, and hospitality that rely heavily on immigrant labor. “The U.S. added slightly more babies, but not enough to move the needle significantly on population growth,” the Journal observed. While the South thrives, five states—California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, and West Virginia—actually lost population in the latest period. Ultimately, the 2025 census data portrays a country in the midst of a grand reorganization.