Is it the case that a greater number of residents from the working-class are departing New York City than those from wealthy backgrounds?
New York City, July 2025 — A recent analysis by the Center for New York City Affairs reveals that working-class residents, including Black and Hispanic residents, households with young children, and low- to middle-income families, are leaving New York City at a higher rate than wealthy residents.
The analysis, which draws on labor market data and a July 2025 report, highlights several key drivers for this trend.
Slow private-sector job growth has been a significant factor. From January to June 2025, New York City added fewer than 1,000 private sector jobs, with losses in many industries despite gains in healthcare, social assistance, government, and information jobs. This slow growth limits employment opportunities for working-class residents, especially men of color, who have been exiting the labor market at higher rates.
Another factor is the impact of federal policies targeting immigrant workers and social safety nets. Harsh immigration enforcement and cuts to public benefits reduce economic security for many working-class New Yorkers, disproportionately impacting Hispanic men and other men of color. This results in declining labor force participation among these groups, pushing them to leave the city in search of better conditions.
Economic inequality also plays a role, with men of color facing greater labor market challenges compared to wealthier or more privileged groups.
In contrast, wealthier residents have not experienced the same level of employment disruption or economic stress and thus have been less likely to leave the city.
It's important to note that after the pandemic-induced exodus earlier in the decade, New York City's overall population has recently bounced back, with growth across all boroughs and in particular Manhattan, fueled in part by returns of residents and increased immigration. However, the ongoing out-migration of working-class New Yorkers continues to be driven by labor market disparities and federal policy impacts outlined above.
This analysis does not discuss the temporary surge in wealthy New Yorkers leaving the state due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the proportion of population loss in New York state that comes from New York City, the role of affordability concerns in the population growth, the likelihood of working-class residents returning to New York City, or the demographic composition of the new arrivals.
This fact brief is a response to conversations about the growth in New York City's population, produced by New York Focus in partnership with Gigafact. The city's planning department attributes the population growth to natural increase and new arrivals, not the return of displaced working-class residents.
[1] Center for New York City Affairs Report (July 2025) [2] US Census Bureau Report (July 2024) [3] Fiscal Policy Institute Research (2023)
- Despite the overall population growth in New York City, working-class residents, such as Black and Hispanic residents, are leaving the city at a higher rate than wealthier residents, according to a recent analysis by the Center for New York City Affairs.
- One of the key drivers for this trend is slow private-sector job growth, with New York City adding fewer than 1,000 private sector jobs from January to June 2025, especially impacting men of color.
- Federal policies targeting immigrant workers and social safety nets, such as harsh immigration enforcement and cuts to public benefits, are also contributing to the out-migration of working-class New Yorkers.
- Economic inequality is another important factor, as men of color face greater labor market challenges compared to wealthier groups in the city.
- Despite these challenges, wealthier residents have not experienced the same level of employment disruption or economic stress and thus have been less likely to leave the city.
- The analysis does not discuss the temporary surge in wealthy New Yorkers leaving the state due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the proportion of population loss in New York state that comes from New York City, the role of affordability concerns in the population growth, the likelihood of working-class residents returning to New York City, or the demographic composition of the new arrivals.
