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How to Become a Research Nurse

What is a research nurse.

• Career Outlook

Research Nurses, also referred to as Clinical Nurse Researchers or Nurse Researchers, develop and implement studies to investigate and provide information on new medications, vaccinations, and medical procedures. They assist in providing evidence-based research that is essential to safe and quality nursing care. This guide will explain what a Research Nurse does, how much they make, how to become one, and more!

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Research nurses play a pivotal role in developing new and potentially life-saving medical treatments. Typically, clinical research nurses have advanced degrees, assist in the development of studies regarding medications, vaccines, and medical procedures, and also the care of research participants. 

Nurses that know they want to be a clinical research nurse will often work as a research assistant, a clinical data collector, and/or clinical research monitor. It is essential to gain some bedside experience, but not as important as other nursing specialties. 

Clinical research nurses have advanced degrees such as an MSN or Ph.D. This is vital to those that want to conduct independent research. For that reason, most clinical research nurses do not work in this field until they are in their 40s-50s.

What Does a Research Nurse Do?

Research Nurses primarily conduct evidence-based research through these two types of research methods:

• Quantitative: Meaning it’s researched that can be measured via statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques.
• Phenomenology
• Grounded Theory
• Ethnography
• Narrative Inquiry

Clinical research nurses perform a variety of tasks, all centered around research. These specific job responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with industry sponsors and other investigators from multi-institutional studies
• Educating and training of new research staff
• Overseeing the running of clinical trials
• Administering questionnaires to clinical trial participants
• Writing articles and research reports in nursing or medical professional journals or other publications
• Monitoring research participants to ensure adherence to study rules
• Adhering to research regulatory standards
• Writing grant applications to secure funding for studies
• Reporting findings of research, which may include presenting findings at industry conferences, meetings and other speaking engagements
• Adhering to ethical standards
• Maintaining detailed records of studies as per FDA guidelines, including things such as drug dispensation
• Participating in subject recruitment efforts
• Ensuring the necessary supplies and equipment for a study are in stock and in working order
• Engaging with subjects and understanding their concerns
• Providing patients with thorough explanation of trial prior to obtaining Informed Consent, in collaboration with treating physician and provides patient education on an ongoing basis throughout the patient’s course of trial.

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Research Nurse Salary

Glassdoor.com states an annual median salary of $95,396 for Research Nurses and Payscale reports that Clinical Research Nurses earn an average annual salary of $75,217 or $36.86/hr . 

Research Nurse Salary by Years of Experience

Research Nurses can earn a higher annual salary with increased years of experience.

• Less than 1 year  of experience earn an average salary of $68,000
• 1-4 years of experience earn an average salary of $73,000
• 5-9 years of experience earns an average salary of $73,000
• 10-19 years of experience earns an average salary of $80,000
• 20 years or more of experience earns an average salary of $78,000

Via Payscale

To become a Research Nurse, you’ll need to complete the following steps:

Step 1: Attend Nursing School

You’ll need to earn either an ADN or a BSN from an accredited nursing program in order to take the first steps to become a registered nurse. 

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN

Become a Registered Nurse by passing the NCLEX examination.

Step 3: Gain Experience at the Bedside

Though not as important as in some other nursing careers, gaining experience is still a vital step for those wanting to become Nurse Researchers. 

Step 4: Earn an MSN and/or Ph.D

Research Nurses typically need an advanced degree, so ADN-prepared nurses will need to complete an additional step of either completing their BSN degree or entering into an accelerated RN to MSN program which will let them earn their BSN and MSN at the same time. 

Step 5: Earn Your Certification

There are currently two certifications available for Clinical Research Nurses. They are both offered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. 

• Clinical Research Association (CCRA)
• Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) 

These certifications are not specific to nurses but rather those that work in the research field. 

CCRA Certification

In order to be deemed eligible for the CCRA Certification exam, applicants must attest to having earned 3,000 hours of professional experience performing the knowledge and tasks located in the six content areas of the CRA Detailed Content Outline. Any experience older than ten years will not be considered.

What’s on the Exam?

• Scientific Concepts and Research Design
• Ethical and Participant Safety Considerations
• Product Development and Regulation
• Clinical Trial Operations (GCPs)
• Study and Site Management
• Data Management and Informatics

Exam Information

• Exam Fee: $435 Member; $485 Nonmember
• Exam Fee: $460 Member; $600 Nonmember
• Multiple choice examination with 125 questions (25 pretest non-graded questions)

CCRC Certification

In order to be deemed eligible for the CCRC Certification exam, applicants must attest to having earned 3,000 hours of professional experience performing the knowledge and tasks located in the six content areas of the CCRC Detailed Content Outline. Any experience older than ten years will not be considered.

Where Do Research Nurses Work?

Clinical Research nurses can work in a variety of locations, including:

• Government Agencies
• Teaching Hospitals
• Medical Clinics
• International Review Board
• Medicine manufacturing 
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Medical research organizations
• Research Organizations
• International Health Organizations
• Private practice
• Private and public foundations

What is the Career Outlook for a Research Nurse?

According to the BLS , from 2022 to 2032, there is an expected growth of 6% for registered nurses. With the aging population and nursing shortage, this number is expected to be even higher.

The BLS does identify medical scientists, which includes clinical research nurses, as having a growth potential of 10% between 2022-2032. 

What are the Continuing Education Requirements for a Research Nurse?

Generally, in order for an individual to renew their RN license, they will need to fill out an application, complete a specific number of CEU hours, and pay a nominal fee. Each state has specific requirements and it is important to check with the board of nursing prior to applying for license renewal.

 If the RN license is part of a compact nursing license, the CEU requirement will be for the state of permanent residence. Furthermore, some states require CEUs related to child abuse, narcotics, and/or pain management. 

A detailed look at Continuing Nurse Education hours can be found here .

Where Can I Learn More About Becoming a Research Nurse?

• American Nurses Association (ANA)
• Nurse Researcher Magazine
• National Institute of Nursing Research
• International Association of Clinical Research Nurses
• Association of Clinical Research Professionals
• Society of Clinical Research Associates
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Research Nurse FAQs

What is the role of a research nurse.

• Research nursing is a nursing practice with a specialty focus on the care of research participants. 

What makes a good Research Nurse?

• Research Nurses should be excellent communicators, have strong attention to detail, be self-assured, have strong clinical abilities, be flexible, autonomous, organized, and eager to learn new information.

How much does a Research Nurse make?

• Research nurses earn an average salary of $95,396 according to Glassdoor.com.

What is it like being a Research Nurse?

• Research Nurses provide and coordinate clinical care. Research Nurses have a central role in ensuring participant safety, maintaining informed consent, the integrity of protocol implementation, and the accuracy of data collection and data recording.

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Home » Research Report – Example, Writing Guide and Types

Research Report – Example, Writing Guide and Types

Table of Contents

Research Report

Definition:

Research Report is a written document that presents the results of a research project or study, including the research question, methodology, results, and conclusions, in a clear and objective manner.

The purpose of a research report is to communicate the findings of the research to the intended audience, which could be other researchers, stakeholders, or the general public.

Components of Research Report

Components of Research Report are as follows:

Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for the research report and provides a brief overview of the research question or problem being investigated. It should include a clear statement of the purpose of the study and its significance or relevance to the field of research. It may also provide background information or a literature review to help contextualize the research.

Literature Review

The literature review provides a critical analysis and synthesis of the existing research and scholarship relevant to the research question or problem. It should identify the gaps, inconsistencies, and contradictions in the literature and show how the current study addresses these issues. The literature review also establishes the theoretical framework or conceptual model that guides the research.

Methodology

The methodology section describes the research design, methods, and procedures used to collect and analyze data. It should include information on the sample or participants, data collection instruments, data collection procedures, and data analysis techniques. The methodology should be clear and detailed enough to allow other researchers to replicate the study.

The results section presents the findings of the study in a clear and objective manner. It should provide a detailed description of the data and statistics used to answer the research question or test the hypothesis. Tables, graphs, and figures may be included to help visualize the data and illustrate the key findings.

The discussion section interprets the results of the study and explains their significance or relevance to the research question or problem. It should also compare the current findings with those of previous studies and identify the implications for future research or practice. The discussion should be based on the results presented in the previous section and should avoid speculation or unfounded conclusions.

The conclusion summarizes the key findings of the study and restates the main argument or thesis presented in the introduction. It should also provide a brief overview of the contributions of the study to the field of research and the implications for practice or policy.

The references section lists all the sources cited in the research report, following a specific citation style, such as APA or MLA.

The appendices section includes any additional material, such as data tables, figures, or instruments used in the study, that could not be included in the main text due to space limitations.

Types of Research Report

Types of Research Report are as follows:

Thesis is a type of research report. A thesis is a long-form research document that presents the findings and conclusions of an original research study conducted by a student as part of a graduate or postgraduate program. It is typically written by a student pursuing a higher degree, such as a Master’s or Doctoral degree, although it can also be written by researchers or scholars in other fields.

Research Paper

Research paper is a type of research report. A research paper is a document that presents the results of a research study or investigation. Research papers can be written in a variety of fields, including science, social science, humanities, and business. They typically follow a standard format that includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion sections.

Technical Report

A technical report is a detailed report that provides information about a specific technical or scientific problem or project. Technical reports are often used in engineering, science, and other technical fields to document research and development work.

Progress Report

A progress report provides an update on the progress of a research project or program over a specific period of time. Progress reports are typically used to communicate the status of a project to stakeholders, funders, or project managers.

Feasibility Report

A feasibility report assesses the feasibility of a proposed project or plan, providing an analysis of the potential risks, benefits, and costs associated with the project. Feasibility reports are often used in business, engineering, and other fields to determine the viability of a project before it is undertaken.

Field Report

A field report documents observations and findings from fieldwork, which is research conducted in the natural environment or setting. Field reports are often used in anthropology, ecology, and other social and natural sciences.

Experimental Report

An experimental report documents the results of a scientific experiment, including the hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions. Experimental reports are often used in biology, chemistry, and other sciences to communicate the results of laboratory experiments.

Case Study Report

A case study report provides an in-depth analysis of a specific case or situation, often used in psychology, social work, and other fields to document and understand complex cases or phenomena.

Literature Review Report

A literature review report synthesizes and summarizes existing research on a specific topic, providing an overview of the current state of knowledge on the subject. Literature review reports are often used in social sciences, education, and other fields to identify gaps in the literature and guide future research.

Research Report Example

Following is a Research Report Example sample for Students:

Title: The Impact of Social Media on Academic Performance among High School Students

This study aims to investigate the relationship between social media use and academic performance among high school students. The study utilized a quantitative research design, which involved a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of 200 high school students. The findings indicate that there is a negative correlation between social media use and academic performance, suggesting that excessive social media use can lead to poor academic performance among high school students. The results of this study have important implications for educators, parents, and policymakers, as they highlight the need for strategies that can help students balance their social media use and academic responsibilities.

Introduction:

Social media has become an integral part of the lives of high school students. With the widespread use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, students can connect with friends, share photos and videos, and engage in discussions on a range of topics. While social media offers many benefits, concerns have been raised about its impact on academic performance. Many studies have found a negative correlation between social media use and academic performance among high school students (Kirschner & Karpinski, 2010; Paul, Baker, & Cochran, 2012).

Given the growing importance of social media in the lives of high school students, it is important to investigate its impact on academic performance. This study aims to address this gap by examining the relationship between social media use and academic performance among high school students.

Methodology:

The study utilized a quantitative research design, which involved a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of 200 high school students. The questionnaire was developed based on previous studies and was designed to measure the frequency and duration of social media use, as well as academic performance.

The participants were selected using a convenience sampling technique, and the survey questionnaire was distributed in the classroom during regular school hours. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis.

The findings indicate that the majority of high school students use social media platforms on a daily basis, with Facebook being the most popular platform. The results also show a negative correlation between social media use and academic performance, suggesting that excessive social media use can lead to poor academic performance among high school students.

Discussion:

The results of this study have important implications for educators, parents, and policymakers. The negative correlation between social media use and academic performance suggests that strategies should be put in place to help students balance their social media use and academic responsibilities. For example, educators could incorporate social media into their teaching strategies to engage students and enhance learning. Parents could limit their children’s social media use and encourage them to prioritize their academic responsibilities. Policymakers could develop guidelines and policies to regulate social media use among high school students.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, this study provides evidence of the negative impact of social media on academic performance among high school students. The findings highlight the need for strategies that can help students balance their social media use and academic responsibilities. Further research is needed to explore the specific mechanisms by which social media use affects academic performance and to develop effective strategies for addressing this issue.

Limitations:

One limitation of this study is the use of convenience sampling, which limits the generalizability of the findings to other populations. Future studies should use random sampling techniques to increase the representativeness of the sample. Another limitation is the use of self-reported measures, which may be subject to social desirability bias. Future studies could use objective measures of social media use and academic performance, such as tracking software and school records.

Implications:

The findings of this study have important implications for educators, parents, and policymakers. Educators could incorporate social media into their teaching strategies to engage students and enhance learning. For example, teachers could use social media platforms to share relevant educational resources and facilitate online discussions. Parents could limit their children’s social media use and encourage them to prioritize their academic responsibilities. They could also engage in open communication with their children to understand their social media use and its impact on their academic performance. Policymakers could develop guidelines and policies to regulate social media use among high school students. For example, schools could implement social media policies that restrict access during class time and encourage responsible use.

References:

• Kirschner, P. A., & Karpinski, A. C. (2010). Facebook® and academic performance. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(6), 1237-1245.
• Paul, J. A., Baker, H. M., & Cochran, J. D. (2012). Effect of online social networking on student academic performance. Journal of the Research Center for Educational Technology, 8(1), 1-19.
• Pantic, I. (2014). Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17(10), 652-657.
• Rosen, L. D., Carrier, L. M., & Cheever, N. A. (2013). Facebook and texting made me do it: Media-induced task-switching while studying. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 948-958.

Note*: Above mention, Example is just a sample for the students’ guide. Do not directly copy and paste as your College or University assignment. Kindly do some research and Write your own.

Applications of Research Report

Research reports have many applications, including:

• Communicating research findings: The primary application of a research report is to communicate the results of a study to other researchers, stakeholders, or the general public. The report serves as a way to share new knowledge, insights, and discoveries with others in the field.
• Informing policy and practice : Research reports can inform policy and practice by providing evidence-based recommendations for decision-makers. For example, a research report on the effectiveness of a new drug could inform regulatory agencies in their decision-making process.
• Supporting further research: Research reports can provide a foundation for further research in a particular area. Other researchers may use the findings and methodology of a report to develop new research questions or to build on existing research.
• Evaluating programs and interventions : Research reports can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and interventions in achieving their intended outcomes. For example, a research report on a new educational program could provide evidence of its impact on student performance.
• Demonstrating impact : Research reports can be used to demonstrate the impact of research funding or to evaluate the success of research projects. By presenting the findings and outcomes of a study, research reports can show the value of research to funders and stakeholders.
• Enhancing professional development : Research reports can be used to enhance professional development by providing a source of information and learning for researchers and practitioners in a particular field. For example, a research report on a new teaching methodology could provide insights and ideas for educators to incorporate into their own practice.

How to write Research Report

Here are some steps you can follow to write a research report:

• Identify the research question: The first step in writing a research report is to identify your research question. This will help you focus your research and organize your findings.
• Conduct research : Once you have identified your research question, you will need to conduct research to gather relevant data and information. This can involve conducting experiments, reviewing literature, or analyzing data.
• Organize your findings: Once you have gathered all of your data, you will need to organize your findings in a way that is clear and understandable. This can involve creating tables, graphs, or charts to illustrate your results.
• Write the report: Once you have organized your findings, you can begin writing the report. Start with an introduction that provides background information and explains the purpose of your research. Next, provide a detailed description of your research methods and findings. Finally, summarize your results and draw conclusions based on your findings.
• Proofread and edit: After you have written your report, be sure to proofread and edit it carefully. Check for grammar and spelling errors, and make sure that your report is well-organized and easy to read.
• Include a reference list: Be sure to include a list of references that you used in your research. This will give credit to your sources and allow readers to further explore the topic if they choose.
• Format your report: Finally, format your report according to the guidelines provided by your instructor or organization. This may include formatting requirements for headings, margins, fonts, and spacing.

Purpose of Research Report

The purpose of a research report is to communicate the results of a research study to a specific audience, such as peers in the same field, stakeholders, or the general public. The report provides a detailed description of the research methods, findings, and conclusions.

Some common purposes of a research report include:

• Sharing knowledge: A research report allows researchers to share their findings and knowledge with others in their field. This helps to advance the field and improve the understanding of a particular topic.
• Identifying trends: A research report can identify trends and patterns in data, which can help guide future research and inform decision-making.
• Addressing problems: A research report can provide insights into problems or issues and suggest solutions or recommendations for addressing them.
• Evaluating programs or interventions : A research report can evaluate the effectiveness of programs or interventions, which can inform decision-making about whether to continue, modify, or discontinue them.
• Meeting regulatory requirements: In some fields, research reports are required to meet regulatory requirements, such as in the case of drug trials or environmental impact studies.

When to Write Research Report

A research report should be written after completing the research study. This includes collecting data, analyzing the results, and drawing conclusions based on the findings. Once the research is complete, the report should be written in a timely manner while the information is still fresh in the researcher’s mind.

In academic settings, research reports are often required as part of coursework or as part of a thesis or dissertation. In this case, the report should be written according to the guidelines provided by the instructor or institution.

In other settings, such as in industry or government, research reports may be required to inform decision-making or to comply with regulatory requirements. In these cases, the report should be written as soon as possible after the research is completed in order to inform decision-making in a timely manner.

Overall, the timing of when to write a research report depends on the purpose of the research, the expectations of the audience, and any regulatory requirements that need to be met. However, it is important to complete the report in a timely manner while the information is still fresh in the researcher’s mind.

Characteristics of Research Report

There are several characteristics of a research report that distinguish it from other types of writing. These characteristics include:

• Objective: A research report should be written in an objective and unbiased manner. It should present the facts and findings of the research study without any personal opinions or biases.
• Systematic: A research report should be written in a systematic manner. It should follow a clear and logical structure, and the information should be presented in a way that is easy to understand and follow.
• Detailed: A research report should be detailed and comprehensive. It should provide a thorough description of the research methods, results, and conclusions.
• Accurate : A research report should be accurate and based on sound research methods. The findings and conclusions should be supported by data and evidence.
• Organized: A research report should be well-organized. It should include headings and subheadings to help the reader navigate the report and understand the main points.
• Clear and concise: A research report should be written in clear and concise language. The information should be presented in a way that is easy to understand, and unnecessary jargon should be avoided.
• Citations and references: A research report should include citations and references to support the findings and conclusions. This helps to give credit to other researchers and to provide readers with the opportunity to further explore the topic.

Advantages of Research Report

Research reports have several advantages, including:

• Communicating research findings: Research reports allow researchers to communicate their findings to a wider audience, including other researchers, stakeholders, and the general public. This helps to disseminate knowledge and advance the understanding of a particular topic.
• Providing evidence for decision-making : Research reports can provide evidence to inform decision-making, such as in the case of policy-making, program planning, or product development. The findings and conclusions can help guide decisions and improve outcomes.
• Supporting further research: Research reports can provide a foundation for further research on a particular topic. Other researchers can build on the findings and conclusions of the report, which can lead to further discoveries and advancements in the field.
• Demonstrating expertise: Research reports can demonstrate the expertise of the researchers and their ability to conduct rigorous and high-quality research. This can be important for securing funding, promotions, and other professional opportunities.
• Meeting regulatory requirements: In some fields, research reports are required to meet regulatory requirements, such as in the case of drug trials or environmental impact studies. Producing a high-quality research report can help ensure compliance with these requirements.

Limitations of Research Report

Despite their advantages, research reports also have some limitations, including:

• Time-consuming: Conducting research and writing a report can be a time-consuming process, particularly for large-scale studies. This can limit the frequency and speed of producing research reports.
• Expensive: Conducting research and producing a report can be expensive, particularly for studies that require specialized equipment, personnel, or data. This can limit the scope and feasibility of some research studies.
• Limited generalizability: Research studies often focus on a specific population or context, which can limit the generalizability of the findings to other populations or contexts.
• Potential bias : Researchers may have biases or conflicts of interest that can influence the findings and conclusions of the research study. Additionally, participants may also have biases or may not be representative of the larger population, which can limit the validity and reliability of the findings.
• Accessibility: Research reports may be written in technical or academic language, which can limit their accessibility to a wider audience. Additionally, some research may be behind paywalls or require specialized access, which can limit the ability of others to read and use the findings.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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U.S. Added 206,000 Jobs in June; Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.1%

What were the employment trends in June?

The June jobs report showed ongoing payroll growth at a more moderate pace than the 272,000 initially reported in May . In June employers added 206,000 jobs, a figure just below the previous 12-months’ average increase (220,000 jobs–which factors in downward revisions to recent April and May data). Unemployment ticked up to 4.1%, reaching its highest level since November 2021. Industries including government, health care, social assistance, and construction had notable job gains while retailers and professional and business service industries saw small losses. The job market is not as tight as it has been, which should bolster confidence at the Fed that its policy is working and a rate cut may soon be appropriate. At the same time, continued job growth should keep U.S. consumer spending and economic growth in a solid range in the months ahead.

Although job gains ticked up, prior months were revised lower by a total of 15,000 jobs, and this month’s uptick was smaller than previous hiring sprees in March 2024 and December 2023. The data generally points to a gradually normalizing labor market, which is exactly what is needed at this stage of the economic cycle.

Overall, the job market has slowed from previous highs, but appears to be normalizing in a healthy way and should help bolster confidence that monetary policy is having its intended effect.

What else do we know about today’s job market?

Other recent job market data showed 8.1 million job openings in May, up from a downwardly revised April reading, but still lower than the 9.3 million openings one year ago. The job openings rate was up to 4.9% from 4.8% the prior month, but down from 5.6% one year ago. Job quits steadied in the month at 3.5 million, and the rate of 2.2% was unchanged for a seventh month, down from 2.3% in October 2023. The data show a somewhat elevated openings rate relative to pre-pandemic highs (4.8%), while the quits rate is on par with trends in 2017 and 2018. Taken together, these data point to a labor market that continues to offer options for job seekers, and workers appear to approach job switching with a fair amount of confidence.

What does this tell us about what’s ahead?

Mortgage rates currently hover just below 7% , and have occupied a fairly narrow 6.9% to 7.1% range since mid-May. Because today’s job report lacked major fireworks, it is likely to help keep mortgage rates in their recent range. Job gains were modest enough to prevent a big surge in interest rates, but strong enough to stave off worries that a hard landing could be ahead. Meanwhile, the modest uptick in unemployment could help interest rates drift toward the lower end of the range until next week’s inflation reports. 

What does today’s data mean for homebuyers, sellers, and the housing market?

Home sales have been stuck in the doldrums, as both buyer and seller interest has been dampened by these elevated mortgage rates. Higher borrowing costs eat into affordability and complicate trade-up decisions for homeowners who currently enjoy much lower mortgage rates . The reduction in mortgage rates and other borrowing costs that will likely coincide with the Fed’s decision to begin normalizing policy will provide a welcome wind in the sails of buyers and sellers alike, and today’s job report suggests that date remains just on the horizon.

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• A continued worldwide power shortage is significantly inhibiting the global data center market’s growth. Sourcing power is a top priority for operators across all regions (North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific). Secondary markets with ample power should attract more data center investment.
• Vacancy rates continue to decline across most global markets due to strong demand. Singapore, the world's most power-constrained market, has only 7.2 MW of available capacity and a near record-low 1% vacancy rate.
• Large corporations face increasing difficulty securing data center capacity. Low supply, construction delays and power challenges are impacting all markets. For example, Querétaro, Mexico has only 0.6 MW available for lease.
• The worldwide power shortage continues to fuel price increases for data center capacity. In U.S. dollar terms, Singapore still has the highest rental rates at US$315 to US$480 per month for a 250- to 500-kW requirement, while Chicago still has the lowest at $155 to $165.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) advancements are projected to significantly drive future data center demand. High-performance computing will require rapid innovation in data center design and technology to manage rising power density needs.

All analysis in this report is based only on the four largest data center markets by inventory in each global region, as follows:

• North America: Northern Virgina, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Chicago and Silicon Valley.
• Europe: Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Paris.
• Latin America: Querétaro (Mexico), Sáo Paulo (Brazil), Santiago (Chile) and Bogotá (Colombia).
• Asia-Pacific: Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney.

Inventory (MW)

North America Despite power supply issues, North American data center inventory grew by 24.4% year-over-year in Q1 2024, adding 807.5 MW across Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas and Silicon Valley. Northern Virginia led with 391.1 MW of new supply, due to demand from public cloud providers and AI companies. Local governments are addressing power constraints by simplifying permitting and integrating renewable energy into the grid.

Europe The European data center market grew by nearly 20% year-over-year in Q1 2024. There was significant development in all four major FLAP markets (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Paris), with Paris leading at over 40% year-over-year growth. However, supply shortages persist across the continent, especially in core markets like Frankfurt. Preleasing new facilities is now common, indicating a need for ongoing investment in data center development. Power sourcing remains a key challenge.

Latin America The region's data center inventory grew by 15% year-over year in Q1 to 650.2 MW, with São Paulo accounting for 67% of the top four countries’ total inventory. Bogotá’s inventory grew the most at 25%.

Asia-Pacific The region’s data center inventory increased by 22% year-over year in Q1 to 2,996 MW. Tokyo, Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore each contain well over a half-GW of live power capacity, despite tighter planning constraints in Singapore. The capacity pipeline is strong, with numerous developments under construction across the region.

Figure 1: Data Center Inventory by Market

North America North American data center vacancy rates hit new lows across major markets. Chicago led again with the biggest year-over-year decrease to 2.4% from 6.7%. Northern Virginia's vacancy rate decline closely followed, dropping to 0.9% from 1.8% the year prior despite an 18% increase in inventory over the same period.

Europe The FLAP markets' combined vacancy rate fell by 2 percentage points year-over-year in Q1 to 10.6%. Amsterdam had the largest decrease of nearly 8 percentage points to 11.5%. Despite expected new supply, the low vacancy rate should persist due to strong demand.

Latin America The region’s vacancy rate held steady year-over-year at 11.1%. Querétaro had the biggest decline (1.9 percentage points) to a record-low 1.2%. There is persistently strong regional demand, mainly from hyperscalers.

Asia-Pacific The vacancy rate slightly increased in Asia-Pacific due to many new project completions, with primary market vacancy rising to 16% from 13.5%. Hong Kong’s vacancy rate hit around 30% due to 195 MW of new 2023 supply amid softer leasing conditions. However, Singapore remained an extremely tight market with a vacancy rate of 1.0%.

Figure 2: Data Center Vacancy Rate by Market

Net absorption.

North America Public cloud providers and AI companies are driving strong demand for North American data centers. All four featured North American markets–Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Silicon Valley–had major year-over-year net absorption increases. Northern Virginia had the largest year-over-year increase at 407.4 MW. Chicago absorbed 218.7 MW, Dallas gained 140.2 MW and Silicon Valley secured 62.6 MW.

Europe Despite macroeconomic headwinds, Europe’s data center demand remains high. FLAP markets had a significant surge in net absorption, reaching a combined 487.6 MW from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024, nearly double the previous year’s absorption.

Latin America Latin America's data center demand continues to rise, with net absorption reaching 73.3 MW in Q1 2024. São Paulo, the region's leading market, absorbed 40.4 MW this year. Hyperscalers are expanding their regional presence, seeking reliable data center infrastructure for their growing needs.

Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific leasing demand remains strong due to corporate and government digitization, and cloud services adoption. AI-related industries, particularly in Tokyo and Sydney, also show massive potential with multi-MW requirements. Singapore’s take-up increased despite supply constraints. Net absorption in Hong Kong improved due to demand from mainland Chinese companies and multinational hyperscalers.

Figure 3: Data Center Net Absorption by Market, Q1 2023 to Q1 2024

Pricing & rental rates.

North America North American data center pricing is significantly accelerating due to supply shortages and high demand. Average asking rates for a typical 250- to 500-kW requirement across all four featured North American markets surged by 20% year-over-year, the highest global increase.

Europe European data center pricing continues increasing due to high demand and rising construction costs. Rental rates in key markets like Frankfurt and London have steadily climbed over the past 18 months. Frankfurt saw a steeper 15% increase, reflecting its status as one of the most expensive markets in Europe.

Latin America Latin America’s data center pricing shows a mixed picture this year. Overall rental rates are rising slightly from last year, with market-specific variations. For example, Bogotá saw an unexpected 8% year-over-year colocation rate decrease, possibly due to increased competition or a temporary market correction. Conversely, Santiago’s rental rates increased by 15%, reflecting strong demand and limited supply.

Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific pricing has steadily increased due to strong demand and rising construction and operational costs, despite a relatively large amount of new inventory. Singapore, one of the most expensive global markets, is asking over US$300 per kW. Tokyo’s pricing has generally increased, with rates around US$200 per kW. Sydney’s pricing remains steady at US$195 despite significant new supply.

Figure 4: Monthly Pricing Range for 250-500kW (Min-Max) $USD Without Electricity Cost

Availability.

North America North American data center availability keeps tightening due to robust demand. Significant supply additions from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024 were quickly absorbed, further reducing leasing availability. Northern Virginia saw the largest decrease (-16.2 MW), followed by Chicago (-10.6 MW) and Dallas (-1.5 MW). Silicon Valley was the only major market with increased availability (+19 MW).

Europe Despite significantly increased data center supply across FLAP markets, leasing availability stayed relatively flat from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024 due to robust demand quickly absorbing new supply. Amsterdam had Europe’s largest decline, dropping to 65.4 MW from 98.6MW.

Latin America Latin America's data center availability modestly increased in 2024, largely due to more space in São Paulo, the region's largest market. São Paulo’s availability increased to 62.1 MW from 52.3 MW in Q1 2024. However, this growth remains slight, indicating that demand still exceeds new supply in many Latin American markets.

Asia-Pacific Leasing availability in Asia-Pacific slightly rose due to a wave of recently completed facilities, yet demand remains high. Many companies are opting for pre-commitments, absorbing a sizable portion of the new supply. Singapore remains supply-constrained, benefiting alternative markets. Overall, Asia-Pacific maintains a balanced supply-and-demand dynamic, facilitating strong conditions for market entry and expansion.

Figure 5: Data Center Availability by Market

North america featured markets, northern virginia.

Northern Virginia, the world’s largest data center market, increased its inventory by 391.1MW year-over-year despite Dominion Power’s power supply issues. Public cloud providers and AI companies leased most of the market’s space, resulting in a record-low 0.9% vacancy rate. Consequently, rental rates surged by 41.6% year-over-year as tenants secured leases pre-construction to meet capacity needs. The high electricity demand also boosted power costs by 20.8% year-over-year.

Opportunities:

Dominion Energy's current transmission line projects should boost power capacity by 2026, potentially easing existing limitations. This may encourage further data center development in the region.

Persistently low vacancy and preleasing activity indicate sustained demand. Developers may explore opportunities in surrounding areas such as Central Virginia (including Fredericksburg and Richmond), Maryland and neighboring Virginia counties.

Challenges:

Power supply issues remain despite progress on transmission line construction. Power availability and permitting processes dictate data center construction timelines.

Land scarcity in core counties such as Loudoun and Prince William may increase development costs. Additionally, extended timelines could reduce profit margins for some developers.

Dallas-Ft. Worth

Dallas-Ft. Worth has cemented its status as the nation’s second-largest colocation market, with 31.9% year-over-year inventory growth to 573 MW. Currently, it has a record 372.2 MW of data center space under construction, with 91.8% pre-leased. Limited supply is driving rental rates up across all requirement sizes. Hyperscale and AI companies’ continued interest is further fueling market growth.

The independent decision-making and faster development timelines of Texas' energy grid, ERCOT, give it a unique advantage over many other markets facing power and supply chain delays. Oncor Electric's available power further strengthens Dallas-Ft. Worth's appeal for data center development.

Increasing land prices in South Dallas over the past three years indicate strong developer and hyperscale interest in this area, signaling potential for further regional expansion.

Unprecedented preleasing and record-high construction levels raise questions about the market's ability to sustain current growth and meet future demand.

Available colocation space in Chicago is scarce, with a record-low 1.9% vacancy rate, due to high demand from hyperscalers, enterprise users and especially financial services companies. This limited supply and high demand led to a 33% increase in rental rates over the past year. The challenge of power procurement is driving data center development westward towards areas like Elk Grove, Northlake, Wood Dale, Hoffman Estates and Itasca. Meanwhile, established providers are strategically acquiring developed land near existing campuses for future expansion.

Limited land availability in core areas is driving exploration of new submarkets and redevelopment opportunities, offering a chance for innovative solutions.

Affordable development land is scarce and power procurement poses a significant challenge.

Silicon Valley

Public cloud providers continue to dominate the tech industry’s epicenter, setting a gross leasing absorption record in 2023. Most leases were full building takeovers by cloud service providers, whose cloud businesses are growing partly due to AI adoption. The 6.5% market vacancy is solely in second-generation space, mainly smaller 1-2MW suites, which struggle to meet market standards for performance and efficiency. Power constraints will limit new data center supply for the foreseeable future. Asking rental rates in the 250- to 500-kW range have reached $155 to $250 per kW, the highest in our report.

The constrained power grid has opened opportunities for new technology and alternative power sources like fuel cells or on-site generation systems, to alleviate the market’s supply crunch.

Several developers who purchased property to build a data center have been informed that they won’t receive utility power for over a decade. They must decide whether to wait, sell, reposition or pursue a less-common alternative power source.

EMERGING MARKET

Northern indiana.

Two major hyperscaler announcements this year highlighted Northern Indiana as a new data center frontier. Located near major Midwest cities, it’s become one of North America’s fastest-growing markets for new greenfield data center projects. Cities within a 300-mile radius, including Chicago, Toledo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Cleveland and Columbus, are fueling interest in new data center development. Power and land availability, along with tax incentives, are set to drive further growth in 2025.

Boise, Idaho

In 2022, a leading hyperscaler announced a major development in Kuna, near Boise, Idaho, sparking significant interest for data center development land. We anticipate ongoing development in this region due to Idaho Power’s prevalent hydropower, a new solar facility in Pleasant Valley, abundant land and minimal natural disaster risk.

Europe Featured Markets

Germany’s financial capital maintains the lowest vacancy rate (6%) of any primary market. Data center space is typically preleased before a facility opens, making it nearly impossible for many organizations to find space in this market. Remaining capacity is quickly leased, with Frankfurt’s absorption rate being the lowest of any FLAP market. CBRE expects the vacancy rate to drop below 5% this year.

Despite this low availability, organizations are not deterred. There is strong demand for data center space in Frankfurt, with hyperscalers and many enterprises seeking to grow their substantial presence in the metro market. Operators have responded by adding significant capacity to their pipeline and initiating construction for 2024 and 2025 projects.

However, any space in Frankfurt not already pre-leased will likely be swiftly leased. This situation is further complicated by the difficulties providers face in delivering supply due to issues with securing power, finding suitable land and obtaining the necessary construction permits.

Providing service to Frankfurt from nearby areas like Mainz, located west of Frankfurt, may present an opportunity for providers due to its proximity to hyperscaler availability zones.

Providers face more regulations, limiting available building areas and increasing their already high construction costs.

The British capital still attracts significant demand despite its supply shortage. Hyperscalers primarily drive demand in London’s western corridor but are seeking data center space further afield. Expected demand growth from start-ups, enterprises and GPU-as-a-service providers will likely be challenged by capacity scarcity, limited power availability and few local AI-ready data centers. Hyperscalers and enterprises may struggle to find available power in the largest submarkets. However, areas well outside of London’s main regions, with less data center concentration, may offer more options. Consequently, London’s development radius will likely expand, even after key electricity substation upgrades.

Providers who find a site with available power and proximity to hyperscaler availability zones are far likelier to lease space in a data center that can be built on it.

Securing power sources for data centers is increasingly challenging for providers, potentially driving hyperscalers to invest elsewhere due to the considerable difficulty of development.

Amsterdam, a top global connectivity hub and Europe’s third-largest market, remains a strategic region for international data transfer and peering. However, stringent data center regulations and limited power availability make building data centers more challenging. This has slowed development relative to other primary European markets. There is no new supply this year and 2023’s growth was lower than any other FLAPD market, except the much larger London. Year-over-year new supply declines and take-up are common in Amsterdam, like any other data center market after a strong year.

In the short-term, limited power availability will deter development and limit new supply delivery. Numerous markets face this same issue. Still, the expected 2025 completion of a key local electricity substation upgrade should boost future data center development, as Europe faces a need for available wholesale capacity.

Amsterdam is underrepresented in hyperscaler deployments. It’s imperative for operators to make Amsterdam appealing to hyperscalers, as they account for the vast majority of data center demand.

Attracting data center investment may be difficult for Amsterdam due to regulatory constraints such as a national moratorium on data centers with a maximum IT load of over 70MW.

Paris recently surpassed Amsterdam and Dublin in terms of growth. It is expected to become Europe’s third-largest market for total supply this year, after Frankfurt and London. Demand, pricing and construction costs are rising due to record levels of data center capacity being delivered to meet the growing requirements of hyperscalers.

Over the past two years, take-up has surged due to the top hyperscalers’ local cloud regions, with much expansion and new construction delivering space in South Paris last year. Major cloud providers now offer, or soon will, a “Sovereign Cloud” product aimed at French public sector organizations and other security-needy sectors like healthcare and financial services.

More hyperscaler business is obtainable if operators can overcome regulatory and labor law challenges to deliver ample new capacity this year. The potential success makes the risk worthwhile, considering the scale of hyperscaler deployments, particularly in South Paris.

Securing land and power for new developments is increasingly difficult, particularly in the North. The zoning restrictions initiated due to the 2024 Olympics have further complicated matters for providers and others aiming to build in the region.

Data center development in Madrid is expected to accelerate this year despite its relatively high vacancy rate. In contrast, it experienced a development slowdown last year, following a peak in 2022 when market supply nearly doubled. This vacant space surplus distinguishes Madrid from other secondary markets like Milan and Vienna.

Norway’s capital and largest city hosts a mix of retail and wholesale colocation data centers. It had 70MW of supply as of Q4 2023. It is one of Europe’s faster-growing markets due to available, affordable power and land, prompting significant construction of wholesale data center campuses in the broader region.

Latin America Featured Markets

Querétaro, mexico.

Querétaro, an internet backbone connecting Mexico City and the U.S., is a favored location for hyperscale development in Mexico. Its ample land, professional industrial park operators and easy road access make it ideal for new developments. Additionally, it hosts several banks and telecom companies.

The region already hosts cloud availability zones for Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, with the latter having recently opened. Odata, KIO and Ascenty have consistently expanded their presence here over recent years. However, power challenges have slowed new data center launches and expansions. Hopes for resolving these challenges by 2025 are fading, making 2026 a more likely timeline for energy solutions implementation.

Electrical infrastructure limitations hinder market growth but strong demand persists. Securing extra electrical capacity can give operators a significant advantage. Solid government support for the tech sector enhances this market’s appeal for data center investment. Furthermore, land costs remain attractive compared with other markets.

Power supply is the main challenge in the region, impacting Querétaro and other Mexican markets. There are many industrial parks but few have secure energy capacity. Those that do often charge high prices.

São Paulo, Brazil

São Paulo is Latin America’s primary data center market, boasting its largest data center campus under development. This market’s advantages include the country’s best connectivity, strong energy supply and power infrastructure, and proximity to many corporate headquarters and a high-skilled IT labor force. Furthermore, it has the country’s largest concentration of rapidly expanding data center retailers and wholesalers. Its clean energy sources, primarily hydroelectricity, are diversifying with increasing investments in solar and wind power, ensuring stable energy supply.

The market’s potential for AI workload deployment has been studied, taking its clean energy matrix and energy availability into account. Certain areas in Barueri and Osasco have attracted development interest for smaller demands, as land and energy availability diminish.

Space and energy constraints are forcing new development farther from the market’s core.

Santiago, Chile

The Santiago market is connected to several submarine cables through Valparaíso, including the US$400-million Humboldt submarine cable project, a public-private partnership with Google, set to launch in 2026 and link the country to Sydney. This diverse data center market—encompassing retail, hyperscale and public cloud providers—creates a strong ecosystem in a key Latin American country, despite its small size and population. With market vacancy at a record-low 1.1%, hyperscalers and public cloud providers are demanding more energy. Regulation has been widely discussed, with debates over data center permits and usage in different zones.

The connection to Australia should bring more demand. New companies will likely enter the market with the lowest vacancy rate in Latin America, despite recent project completions.

This is a challenging region for data center development, with just a few areas permitting construction. Water restrictions also contribute to the difficulties developers have faced.

Bogotá, Colombia

Bogotá's data center market approached the size of Querétaro's last year due to increasing demand for cloud services, data storage and digital transformation initiatives. Hyperscalers have expanded their regional presence and newcomers have launched data centers through powered shell acquisitions in the main Free Trade Zones. These zones offer tax benefits and strategic locations near main highways and industrial corridors. The market utilizes green energy, despite some transmission constraints.

Several established free trade zones in the city’s main industrial corridors offer financial benefits. Due to some project delays in the region, there are opportunities this year to acquire remaining land subject to tax benefits.

Some free trade zones are far from the city’s core, with only a few fiber paths. Additionally, establishing the energy infrastructure needed for hyperscale projects may delay data center delivery dates.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Brazil’s second-largest market has consistently grown, delivering key hyperscale developments. As some industrial regions become saturated, new areas are emerging, prioritizing energy supply expansion.

Peru has garnered attention for its significant data center activity. The market is transitioning from telecom sites to a third-party focus, facilitated by the entry of international companies like Equinix and Odata.

Asia-Pacific Featured Markets

As a major regional data center hub, Singapore has consistently high demand. However, scarce new supply has led to a 1.0% vacancy rate. An upcoming 80-MW supply awarded from the Data Center-Call for Application (DC-CFA) and 58 MW from the recently announced Singtel Tuas DC will provide temporary relief, supporting market expansion. As new capacity development extends to neighboring markets like Johor and Batam, Singapore will remain the regional interconnection hub. Data center operators will shift focus from size to technology and sustainability, driven by the AI demand boom requiring higher rack density specifications and advanced cooling technology.

Singapore is a top Asia-Pacific market, enjoying political stability, robust digital infrastructure and connectivity, and a tech-friendly business environment. Its serious focus on technological innovation and decarbonization also make it a regional leader, as well as a springboard to many fast-growing Asia-Pacific countries.

Power constraints and government restrictions have limited new supply. Competition from nearby countries with cheaper land, development costs, taxes and utility provide alternative opportunities to operators, investors and customers. Singapore must form part of multi-market strategy to sustain its regional leadership.

This key Asia-Pacific data center market is experiencing strong interest from occupiers and investors. The demand is largely driven by public cloud providers that seek space in strategically located central Tokyo edge facilities, and AI-related companies, which target suburban locations. Greater Tokyo’s current vacancy rate is around 10% to 15%. Despite the expected completion of numerous data centers over the next few years, prices remain stable or are rising due to strong demand. The government promotes data center development in regional areas like Osaka, Fukuoka and Hokkaido as part of its “digital garden city nation" vision.

Tokyo, Japan’s telecommunications hub, is an established data center market with strong international connectivity. It’s currently experiencing high data center demand due to the growth and adoption of cloud services. The surge in AI-related deployments also offers opportunities for colocation/edge providers.

Limited land and power constraints increase costs and potentially delay new developments. Emerging competitors from decentralized locations such as Hokkaido and Kyushu offer alternative options for non-latency-critical AI deployments.

Hong Kong is a major connectivity and commercial hub, acting as a gateway to China. Recent data center supply has outpaced demand, causing an uptick in vacancy levels. Mainland Chinese companies and international hyperscalers drive most absorption. Hong Kong IT service providers have also boosted regional take-up. The current wave of supply is expected to persist until mid-2025, then taper off, allowing greater long-term supply-and-demand balance. Given the softer vacancy rates, the outlook for colocation pricing in the retail & enterprise sectors remains relatively subdued.

Large multinational and domestic hyperscalers have leveraged the high vacancy rate to secure large transactions over the past year. Despite challenges, Hong Kong’s political and environmental stability, along with its role as a regional commercial hub, continues to attract data center occupiers with new supply and competitive prices.

Geopolitical issues still affect multinational retail & enterprise companies’ data center plans in Hong Kong, impacting absorption. The slowing Chinese economy has also reduced activity from mainland Chinese occupiers, though they remain the main market participants. With limited new land and power supply, developers and operators might retrofit existing industrial buildings for supply after 2026.

As one of Asia-Pacific’s largest data center markets, Sydney continues to attract public cloud providers, operators and investors. The persistent demand for colocation capacity is driven by governmental and corporate shifts from traditional on-premises/enterprise models to colocation and cloud service solutions. Despite a slight softening in vacancy levels, the market has seen an influx of new colocation developments, which has increased supply and kept pricing stable. Future growth is expected to be driven by significant activity in the cloud, content, gaming and AI-related industries, necessitating greater use of liquid cooling technologies for intensive computing workloads. The continued expansion by U.S.-based public cloud providers will support Sydney’s and Australia’s data center ecosystem.

Sydney offers a robust data center market, attracting public cloud providers, content, gaming and AI-related industries. With growth constraints in other Asia-Pacific markets, Sydney offers a viable alternative for meeting regional data center demand.

Sydney’s large development pipeline may pressure vacancy levels in the short-to-medium term. Power accessibility remains a challenge, impacting development timelines.

Mumbai, India

Mumbai, India’s largest data center market, boasts over 600 MW of live capacity, comprising about 54% of the overall market. Inventory is expected to surge due to strong demand from banking, financial services and insurance companies, hyperscalers, and media segments supported by international/domestic network connectivity and the government. Generative AI deployments are also fueling demand. Both established domestic and global operators are expanding in the market. International investors planning major developments in Greater Mumbai (Navi Mumbai) include Blackstone, Digital Edge, Digital Connexion and Princeton Digital Group.

Seoul, South Korea

Greater Seoul’s total capacity of 605 MW makes it Korea’s largest data center market. Previously dominated by domestic telecoms and Korean companies, the market now welcomes many new facilities from international developers, expecting a two-thirds increase in supply by 2026. The government’s restrictions on power availability are causing developers to explore land outside of Greater Seoul. Most facilities are pre-leased to hyperscalers because customer demand is high, limiting remaining capacity for enterprise users.

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Asia Pacific Data Centre Trends - Q1 2024

April 3, 2024

Despite a challenging economic environment, data centres remain in focus for the commercial real estate industry in Asia Pacific, with notable market developments across the region. This report explores key data centre investment trends and outlook for the sector in Asia Pacific, and offers insights into the data centre occupier and investment market in Australia, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Singapore, India and Korea.

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• Americans’ Views of Government’s Role: Persistent Divisions and Areas of Agreement

Wide majorities of Biden and Trump supporters oppose cuts to Social Security

Table of contents.

• Views on the efficiency of government
• Views on the government’s regulation of business
• Confidence in the nation’s ability to solve problems
• Views on the effect of government aid to the poor
• Views on government’s role in health care
• Views on the future of Social Security
• Trust in government
• Feelings toward the federal government
• Acknowledgments
• The American Trends Panel survey methodology

Pew Research Center conducted this study to understand Americans’ attitudes about U.S. government, such as its size and role.

This report is based primarily on a survey of 8,709 adults, including 7,166 registered voters, from April 8 to 14, 2024. Some of the analysis in this report is based on a survey of 8,638 adults from May 13 to 19, 2024.

Everyone who took part in these surveys is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

Here are the questions used for the report and its methodology .

While the economy, immigration and abortion have emerged as major issues in the 2024 election, Joe Biden and Donald Trump also have dramatically different ideas about the size and role of government.

These differences reflect decades-old divisions between Democrats and Republicans over the scope of government.

Among registered voters, large majorities of Biden supporters – roughly three-quarters or more – favor a bigger, more activist government.

• 74% say they would rather have a bigger government providing more services.
• 76% say government should do more to solve problems.
• 80% say government aid to the poor “does more good than harm.”

Trump supporters, by comparable margins, take the opposing view on all three questions.

The Pew Research Center survey of 8,709 adults – including 7,166 registered voters – conducted April 8-14, 2024, examines Americans’ views of the role and scope of government , the social safety net and long-term trends in trust in the federal government .

Democratic support for bigger government is little changed in the last five years but remains higher than it was a decade ago. Republicans’ views have shifted less over the last 10 years.

Among all adults, about three-quarters of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents favor a bigger government, up from about six-in-ten in 2014 and 2015. The share of Republicans and Republican leaners who prefer a bigger government has increased only modestly over the same period.

Democratic support for bigger government, while slightly lower than in 2021 (78%), remains at nearly its highest level in five decades. During Bill Clinton’s presidency in the 1990s, fewer than half of Democrats said they preferred a bigger government with more services.

Voters continue to express very different views about government’s role in specific areas than about the government generally.

A large majority of voters (80%) – including 82% of Biden supporters and 78% of Trump supporters – say that in thinking about the long-term future of Social Security, benefits should not be reduced in any way.

However, Biden supporters are more likely than Trump supporters to say Social Security should cover more people with greater benefits.

• 46% of Biden supporters favor expanding Social Security coverage and benefits, compared with 28% of Trump supporters.

Most Americans (65%) continue to say the federal government has a responsibility to make sure all Americans have health care coverage.

Democrats overwhelmingly (88%) say the federal government has this responsibility, compared with 40% of Republicans.

The share of Republicans who say the government has a responsibility to provide health coverage has increased 8 percentage points since 2021, from 32% to 40%.

There are wide income differences among Republicans in opinions about the government’s role in health care:

• 56% of Republicans with lower family incomes say the government has a responsibility to provide health coverage for all, compared with 36% of those with middle incomes and 29% of higher-income Republicans.

When asked how the government should provide health coverage, 36% of Americans say it should be provided through a single national program, while 28% say it should be through a mix of government and private programs. These views have changed little in recent years.

Democrats continue to be more likely than Republicans to favor a “single payer” government health insurance program (53% vs. 18%).

Other key findings in this report

• Americans’ trust in the federal government remains low but has modestly increased since last year. Today, 22% of American adults say they trust the government to do what is right always or most of the time, which is up from 16% in June 2023.
• While the public overall is divided over the nation’s ability to solve important problems, young adults are notably pessimistic about the country’s ability to solve problems . About half of Americans (52%) say the U.S. can’t solve many of its important problems, while 47% say it can find a way to solve problems and get what it wants. Roughly six-in-ten adults under age 30 (62%) say the nation can’t solve major problems, the highest share in any age group and 16 points higher than two years ago.

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June Jobs Report: What to Know and Why it Matters

The fed is closely monitoring changes in the labor market as it weighs interest rate cuts..

The labor market has looked like the most resilient part of the economy for the better part of two years. 

It's held up better than expected so far against the Fed's high interest rates, which has kept the Goldilocks soft-landing scenario alive. With inflation seemingly going in the right direction, the payroll report has become the most important input for the Fed. 

At 8:30 a.m. ET Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will publish June payroll data. 

Consensus estimates forecast the US added 190,000 nonfarm jobs last month, per FactSet, lower than the 272,000 seen in May. Economists then see the unemployment rate staying unchanged at 4.0 percent. 

Yet Gene Goldman, the chief investment officer of Cetera Investment Management, says he expects a lower payroll reading than consensus for three reasons:

Weak manufacturing data suggests broad economic cooling

Recent jobless claims and continuing claims have already come in softer than expected

High interest rates are slowing the services industry, as measured by the ISM services index, and that sector is a big part of employment 

"If the payroll report confirms labor market weakness and wage growth continues slowing, this should increase odds of a Fed rate cut this year," Goldman said. "To that effect, this week's release of the Fed's June FOMC minutes had multiple references that Fed officials are watching for signals of labor market weakness."

Earlier this week, ADP reported 150,000 private-sector jobs were created in June, which would mark the smallest gain in five months. And according to BLS data, there are now 1.2 jobs per unemployed worker, the lowest since June 2021.

That ratio hit a record 2.0 in March 2022. 

Meanwhile, Guy Berger, the director of economic research at the Burning Glass Institute, observed that the "Great Resignation" has turned into the "Great Stay" -- the pace of hiring and quits are moderating, but layoffs are not spiking . 

If we take all of the above at face value, the story is largely one of economic resilience . 

Even with tight monetary policy, jobs growth and unemployment have yet to weaken by a meaningful degree. 

Then again, jobs data has been revised more often than not over the last couple years. 

Plus, it was only last month Bloomberg economists published a scathing writeup that suggested the labor market has crumbled way more than policymakers think. 

The government numbers, according to the report, could be overstating US employment by 1 million people this year. Bloomberg chief economist Anna Wong estimated that the true pace of job growth is below 100,000 a month--less than half the official 242,000, as measured by the three-month average up to June. 

In any case, Goldman remains optimistic for rate cuts this year. Core PCE is nearing the Fed's 2 percent inflation target and consumers are showing signs of pain with high interest rates. 

A worst-case scenario jobs report for the Fed, he added, would be a sharp drop in employment and a rise in the unemployment rate. A reversal in the recent decline in average hourly earnings, too, would put pressure on the central bank.

"This would suggest that the Fed has held rates too high for too long and stagflation becomes a real concern," Goldman said.

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Unprecedented U.S. immigration surge boosts job growth, output

July 02, 2024

The current U.S. immigration surge is unprecedented. The influx flew under the radar for some time, dismissed simply as pent-up immigration from when the borders essentially closed during the pandemic. But this year’s Congressional Budget Office (CBO) budget and economic outlook brought new attention to the migrant inflow and its expected economic effects.

By incorporating previously unavailable data on migration along the southwest border into the government’s economic and fiscal outlook, the macroeconomic implications of such high levels of migration come into focus.

The labor force in 2033 will be larger by 5.2 million people, mostly because of higher net immigration, according to CBO estimates . As a result of the immigration surge , GDP will be higher by about $8.9 trillion and federal government tax revenues by $1.2 trillion over the 2024-34 period. Deficits will be lower by $900 billion.

No consensus on volume of immigration

Government estimates of net immigration differ wildly. Census 2023 estimates (July to July) put net immigration at 1.1 million, far from CBO’s calendar-year 2023 estimate of 3.3 million ( Chart 1 ). CBO similarly estimated a much higher net immigration number than other agencies in 2022—2.7 million.

Net immigration is the sum of individuals who enter the country minus those who leave. Entries can be permanent or temporary but exclude short-term visitors such as tourists. Entries can also be legal, when people come with U.S. government visas, or otherwise, such as humanitarian migrants (asylum seekers and, more recently, humanitarian parolees) and unauthorized immigrants.

CBO included real-time data on the number of border crossers allowed into the country, statistics that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently made available. Recently released 2023 data on immigrant work permits cast doubt on the lower immigration estimates in Chart 1 and are broadly supportive of CBO’s higher numbers.

Border surge sets record

In 2023 alone, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel encountered 2.54 million migrants at the southwest border ( Chart 2 ). This is about the same as the 2.58 million migrants in 2022, a record year. This compares with the prepandemic annual average of 500,000 migrants.

Since the pandemic began in the U.S. in February 2020, CBP has recorded almost 8 million encounters at the southwest border, along with almost 2 million encounters at the northern border, coastal border and airports.

“Encounters,” previously known as apprehensions, include all people at and between ports of entry who are either stopped by the Border Patrol or who turn themselves in. In recent years, an increasing share of migrants simply approaches the Border Patrol and states an intention to seek asylum.

During the pandemic and until May 2023, some of these migrants, typically single adults, were immediately expelled under a provision known as Title 42 , used to deny migrants entrance because of public health concerns related to COVID. However, more consideration was given to families and unaccompanied minors, and so even before the end of Title 42, the volume of migrants far exceeded available detention space. As a result, the majority of migrants has been paroled or otherwise released into the country to pursue asylum claims or other immigration pathways.

Notably, Border Patrol encounters do not include got-aways , or unauthorized immigrants, who escape the notice of Border Patrol while crossing or who are seen but not stopped. DHS publishes estimates of such migrants, although the figures differ significantly from estimates by demographers , at least in recent years.

Immigration policy, labor market shortages drive immigration

Though the number of encounters does not necessarily translate directly to the number of migrants admitted into the U.S., a smaller share is getting turned away than previously. In 2023, fewer than a quarter of encounters at the southwest U.S. border ended in migrants being refused entry into the U.S., and 58 percent of encounters resulted in migrants released or paroled into the interior ( Chart 3 ).

This is a reversal from the previous nine years, when more than half of the 8.7 million migrants apprehended at the southern border were not admitted to the U.S., and less than a quarter were allowed in.

Harsh and deteriorating conditions in many Latin American and Caribbean nations, including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, prompted the U.S. government to expand programs such as humanitarian parole for those nations’ natives. Many migrants risk the trip to not only escape difficult circumstances, but also on the belief they can enter the United States under humanitarian provisions.

Another pull factor is the availability of work and rising wages. The postpandemic U.S. labor market was extremely tight, especially in sectors that tend to rely on immigrant labor. The job openings rate, or the number of job vacancies as a share of total employment in a sector, reached record highs in 2021 and 2022 for accommodation and food services, retail trade and health care and social assistance, among others.

Wages also rose faster in immigrant-intensive occupations and industries than in those that had a lower share of immigrants ( Chart 4 ). Studies have shown that U.S. labor market conditions are among the main drivers of unauthorized immigration.

Influx has significant employment and GDP effects

With this recent immigration wave, the foreign-born labor force has recovered completely from the pandemic drop, even exceeding what would have been expected absent the pandemic ( Chart 5 ). The foreign-born labor force reached February 2020 levels in November 2021, and surpassed trend growth in August 2022, according to the Current Population Survey.

If the foreign-born labor force had grown at the 2000–19 trend rate of 2.2 percent per year starting in January 2020, it would have been smaller by almost 900,000 people in April 2024.

The jump in ready-to-work immigrants has boosted population, labor force and job growth in the postpandemic U.S. economy. Estimates from the Hamilton Project suggest higher immigration boosted payroll job growth by 70,000 jobs per month in 2022 and by 100,000 jobs per month in 2023 and so far in 2024. The upper end of the range of job growth has doubled to 200,000 from 100,000 jobs per month absent the surge of immigration.

It’s not unusual for immigration to account for high shares of job growth. Before the pandemic, from 2010 to 2019, the share of job growth attributable to immigration averaged 45 percent.

The jump in jobs, along with immigrants’ consumption of goods and services in the United States, also bolsters GDP growth. According to the Hamilton Project study, higher immigration has contributed about 0.1 percentage points to GDP growth annually in 2022 and 2023 and is projected to do so again in 2024.

The effect on inflation, meanwhile, could be neutral on average. Higher immigration represents a labor supply shock, which should be disinflationary. But immigrants are also consumers and add to aggregate demand. While certain sectors that extensively depend on immigrants should see costs and prices fall—for example, landscaping and child care—the population influx could put upward pressure on rents and house prices, particularly in the short run before new supply can be built.

Long-run outlook uncertain, but immigration needed for growth

The immigration surge has surprised many, and not everyone agrees with the CBO numbers. But household survey data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) are consistent with CBO estimates of immigration in 2023.

According to the CPS, the foreign-born population rose by 2.5 million from December 2022 to December 2023, even as we estimate about 500,000 immigrants died. These data points are consistent with a net immigrant inflow of at least 3 million over the year. The doubts about CBO’s large number involve problems with encounter data (it measures events, not individuals), debates about migrant return rates and criticism of the household survey (whether it overcounts or undercounts immigrants).

CBO’s immigration projections are even more uncertain, with expected net immigration of 3.3 million in 2024, 2.6 million in 2025, 1.6 million in 2026 and a return to the historical average 1.1 million in 2027–33.

It’s unclear what factors drive these transitions. Potential changes in U.S. immigration policy, such as the Biden administration’s recent executive action limiting the entry of some migrants, or an economic downturn could result in gradual normalization of immigration at the border. Even so, many of the migrants who arrived in recent years will want to stay in the United States.

Asylum approval rates have risen since 2020 but reflect cases filed in years prior. It’s impossible to know what approval rates will be for those who filed their claims more recently. Humanitarian parolees, in contrast, are supposed to return to their home countries after two years.

If immigration normalizes, it will return to rates that are insufficient to sustain the type of economic growth the U.S. is accustomed to. The nation is in a sort of demographic autumn, and winter is coming. The retirement of the baby boomers and overall aging of the workforce, as well as low and falling birth rates mean population growth will become entirely dependent on immigration by 2040, as deaths of U.S.-born will outpace births ( Chart 6 ).

Because economic growth depends on labor, capital and productivity, growth in these factors will set the speed limit of the economy. While technological advances and incentives for investment will contribute to productivity growth, immigration will be vital to propping up labor force growth.

About the authors

Pia M. Orrenius is a senior economist in the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Ana Pranger is a research analyst in the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Madeline Zavodny is a professor of economics at the University of North Florida.

Isabel Dhillon is a research analyst in the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

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A REUTERS SPECIAL REPORT

Apple supplier foxconn rejects married women from india iphone jobs.

Two unidentified women wearing backpacks stand outside a security office in January last year at the main entrance to Foxconn's factory in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, where workers assemble iPhones for Apple. REUTERS/Praveen Paramasivam

Foxconn, a major manufacturer of Apple devices, has been excluding female candidates from assembly jobs at its flagship Indian smartphone plant because they are married. Both companies’ codes of conduct state that workers shouldn't be discriminated against on the basis of marital status.

By PRAVEEN PARAMASIVAM , MUNSIF VENGATTIL and ADITYA KALRA

Filed June 25, 2024, 9:30 a.m. GMT

SRIPERUMBUDUR, India

The two women standing  near the entrance to the iPhone factory in southern India were upset.

Parvathi and Janaki, sisters in their 20s, had come to the plant, run by major Apple supplier Foxconn, for interviews in March 2023 after seeing job ads on WhatsApp. But they had been turned away at the main gate by a security officer who stopped them and asked: “Are you married?”

“We didn’t get the jobs as we both are married,” Parvathi later said in an interview at her village shanty. “Even the auto-rickshaw driver who took us from the bus stand to the Foxconn facility told us they wouldn't take married women,” she added. “We thought we would still give it a shot.”

A Reuters investigation has found that Foxconn has systematically excluded married women from jobs at its main India iPhone assembly plant , on the grounds they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts. S. Paul, a former human-resources executive at Foxconn India, said the company’s executives verbally convey the recruitment rules to its Indian hiring agencies, which Foxconn tasks with scouting for candidates, bringing them in for interviews and employing them.

Foxconn typically doesn’t hire married women because of “cultural issues” and societal pressures, said Paul, who said he left the company in August 2023 for a better-paying role at a consulting firm. The company’s view was that there were “many issues post-marriage,” Paul added. Among them: Women “have babies after marriage.”

“Risk factors increase when you hire married women,” he said.

Paul’s account was corroborated by 17 employees from more than a dozen Foxconn hiring agencies in India, and four current and former Foxconn human-resources executives. Twelve of these sources spoke on condition of anonymity.

The agents and the Foxconn HR sources cited family duties, pregnancy and higher absenteeism as reasons why Foxconn did not hire married women at the plant, located at Sriperumbudur, near the city of Chennai. Many of these people also said jewelry worn by married Hindu women could interfere with production.

The ban isn’t absolute. Three former Foxconn HR executives told Reuters that the Taiwan-headquartered manufacturer relaxes the practice of not hiring married women during high-production periods when it sometimes faces labor shortages. In some cases, hiring agencies help female candidates conceal their marital status to secure jobs, Reuters found.

In response to questions from Reuters, Apple and Foxconn acknowledged lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and said they had worked to address the issues. All the discriminatory practices documented by Reuters at the Sriperumbudur plant, however, took place in 2023 and 2024. The companies didn't address those instances. They also didn’t specify whether any of the lapses in 2022 related to the hiring of married women.

“Risk factors increase when you hire married women.” S. Paul, former Foxconn HR executive, describing the company’s stance

While Indian law doesn’t bar companies from discriminating in hiring based on marital status, Apple’s and Foxconn’s policies prohibit such practice in their supply chains.

Apple told Reuters it upholds the “highest supply chain standards in the industry,” and noted that Foxconn employs some married women in India.

“When concerns about hiring practices were first raised in 2022 we immediately took action and worked with our supplier to conduct monthly audits to identify issues and ensure that our high standards are upheld,” Apple said in a statement. “All of our suppliers in India hire married women, including Foxconn.”

In a statement, Foxconn said it “vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination based on marital status, gender, religion or any other form.”

The exposure of the factory’s hiring practices turns a new spotlight on one of the highest-profile foreign investments in India.

Apple, one of the world’s most valuable companies, is positioning India as an alternative manufacturing base to China amid geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for its part, sees Foxconn’s iPhone factory and Apple’s broader supply chain in India as helping the world’s most populous country move up the economic value chain.

Apple, Foxconn and other big companies also play a key role in another imperative of Modi’s: the removal of societal impediments that prevent many Indian women from getting jobs.

While Foxconn employs thousands of women in India, discrimination on the basis of marital status risks undercutting Modi’s aims.

Modi’s administration has tried to overhaul labor laws to make hiring and firing easier and prevent gender-based discrimination in recruitment. Still, those measures are yet to be implemented and would not specifically address discrimination on the basis of marital status.

The hiring curbs at the iPhone plant also show the challenge for both Apple and Foxconn in upholding their stated global standards of inclusion while expanding their supply chains in this fast-growing but largely conservative country.

Between January 2023 and May 2024, Reuters made more than 20 trips to Sriperumbudur and spoke to dozens of jobseekers about the hiring process. Reporters also reviewed a candidate information pamphlet, dozens of job ads and records of WhatsApp discussions in which four of Foxconn’s third-party recruiters stated to prospective candidates that only unmarried women were eligible for assembly jobs. The ads make no mention of the hiring of men.

For some Indian women, a job building iPhones is a ticket out of extreme poverty. The Foxconn positions offer food and accommodation and a monthly paycheck of about $200, roughly in line with India’s per capita GDP. Such jobs are the kind of opportunities offered by multinational companies that the government has encouraged to help lift living standards.

Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer, outsources its hiring of assembly-line workers to third-party vendors, who must be registered with the Tamil Nadu state government as official Foxconn service providers. The hiring agents scout for and screen the candidates, who ultimately are interviewed and selected by Foxconn. These same vendors directly employ the workers and manage the payroll, getting paid about $10 to $15 a month per employee, three hiring agents said.

Apple and Foxconn each require their suppliers to adhere to their respective codes of conduct.

Foxconn’s code states it is committed to a workforce free of “unlawful discrimination,” and that the company and its suppliers should not discriminate over marital status, gender and other factors in hiring. Apple’s code for suppliers states that they and their subsidiaries, as well as any subcontractors, should not discriminate against any worker based on age, gender, marital status and other matters.

In its statement, Foxconn said, “We enhanced our management process for hiring agencies in India in 2022 and identified four agencies that were posting ads that did not meet our standards,” without naming the agencies. “We took corrective action with those agencies and more than 20 job ads were removed.”

Further, Foxconn said that in its latest round of hiring, almost 25% of the women it hired were married, without specifying the number or where they were employed.

Modi’s office, and India’s federal ministries of labor, commerce and information technology, did not respond to requests for comment about Foxconn not hiring married women on its assembly lines. Tamil Nadu officials, including the chief minister’s office and the state ministries of industry and labor, also did not respond to questions.

Reuters could not establish when the practice of not hiring married women for assembly line work began. Thanga Rasu, a recruiter at Go Staffing, a hiring vendor for Foxconn, said in November 2023 that he had attended meetings with Foxconn officials for around a year and the “unmarried rule” had been in place during that period.

Assembly lines entirely or predominantly staffed by women have emerged in some industries in India. That’s in line with Modi’s efforts to boost female labor-force participation – which official data shows is around 37%, compared with almost 80% for men.

Scooter maker Ola Electric is an example of another company with a focus on hiring women. Bhavish Aggarwal, the founder, said on X in May that Ola runs one of the largest "women only automotive plants," where almost 5,000 work, with a plan to "grow to tens of thousands in the coming years.” Ola declined to comment about its hiring practices.

‘Betterment of society’

Despite the country’s economic boom, many women in India remain confined to household chores and childcare. Since taking office in 2014, Modi has put women at the center of his government’s plans to increase incomes.

“When women prosper, the world prospers,” Modi said in an address to a ministerial conference on women’s empowerment last August. “We must work to remove the barriers that restrict their access to markets, global value chains and affordable finance.”

Apple and Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, are central to those goals. When Apple CEO Tim Cook visited India last year, Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said he discussed “job creation especially for women” with the executive. Vaishnaw’s then-deputy, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has also lauded Apple’s ecosystem for generating more than 150,000 jobs in the past three years.

Apple, in turn, has bet on India as its next growth frontier and a pillar of its efforts to shift production beyond China. India will account for about 9% to 14% of iPhone production globally this year, compared with 86% to 91% in China, according to Taiwan-based Isaiah Research. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities, has predicted India’s share could reach and even exceed 20% this year. Apple did not address a Reuters query about these estimates.

India is also important to Foxconn, which last year exported devices worth $5 billion from the country, according to commercially available customs data. Led by chairman Young Liu, Foxconn in recent years has expanded in India, where it makes iPhones and products for other smartphone brands, including China’s Xiaomi, and plans to move into AirPods and chipmaking.

In January, Modi’s government awarded Liu India’s third-highest civilian honor. “Let’s do our part for manufacturing in India and for the betterment of society,” Liu said on receiving the award.

Most iPhones made in India are produced at the Sriperumbudur plant, about 25 miles west of Chennai. The factory began producing the Apple devices in 2019. It now employs thousands of women on its assembly lines.

In a forum hosted by the Center for Emerging Markets at Northeastern University in 2022, Josh Foulger, then a top Foxconn executive in India, said the company was “completely aligned with” the Indian government’s plans to boost manufacturing. He described how Foxconn opted to hire a workforce in India that overwhelmingly comprised women.

“For me it was a no-brainer,” Foulger said, crediting his mother, a former school teacher, with giving him the idea. “We tried it and it was a fantastic success.”

Foulger said women migrated from around India to work for Foxconn, attracted by its provision of safe accommodation. He added that Foxconn also hires men – “amazing guys who program all the robots” – as technicians and engineers.

Foulger, who left Foxconn earlier this year, declined to comment about the manufacturer’s hiring methods.

Many of the people who spoke to Reuters also attributed Foxconn’s hiring practices to what they said were the company’s concerns that married Hindu women wear metal toe rings known in southern India as metti and necklaces called thaali to signify the bond of marriage.

These customary ornaments could interfere with the manufacturing process, and married women won’t typically remove them, according to five of the hiring vendors and three current and former HR executives. Electrostatic discharge could occur when metals come into contact with phone components, potentially damaging them, one current and one former Foxconn HR executive said.

Additionally, three current and former engineers for Foxconn and an affiliate company, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, said women were screened for metals on entering and leaving the assembly lines, and that the prohibition on ornaments helped security officers prevent any theft of components.

Reuters could not independently ascertain whether ornaments affected the manufacturing process.

In its statement, Foxconn said “married women are welcome to wear traditional metal ornaments while working in our facilities,” without elaborating.

Suhasini Rao, a Bengaluru-based lawyer specializing in Indian labor regulations, said it would be reasonable for a business to require a person to remove ornaments for safety or quality-control reasons as a condition of employment, provided that was conveyed clearly.

Discrimination solely on the basis of marital status, while not prohibited in the private sector under Indian law, “may interfere with an individual’s fundamental right to freedom of trade and occupation and might be struck down by the courts, if challenged,” Rao said.

There is legal precedent on the subject of firing married women on the grounds of absenteeism.

In 1965, India’s Supreme Court struck down a pharmaceutical company’s practice of terminating the employment of women in its packing and labeling department when they got married.

The company, Messrs International Franchises, had argued that it required consistent attendance that “cannot be expected from married women,” and that there was “greater absenteeism among married women.”

The four judges determined there was “nothing to show that married women would necessarily be more likely to be absent than unmarried women,” and “there is no good and convincing reason why such a rule should continue.” Reuters was unable to determine if the company is still operating.

Foxconn has faced scrutiny over the years for its culture and work environment, most notably in China, where it runs the world's biggest iPhone factory in Zhengzhou with 200,000 workers.

A spate of suicides by Foxconn employees in China more than a decade ago prompted questions from their families and labor rights groups about work conditions. Foxconn largely attributed the deaths to workers’ personal problems, and set up counseling hotlines.

In India, protests broke out at the Sriperumbudur plant in December 2021, leading to a brief production halt, after more than 250 workers suffered food poisoning .

That episode led Apple to dispatch independent auditors to assess conditions in workers’ facilities. Both Apple and Foxconn said they found some dormitories and dining rooms did not meet required standards, and Apple briefly put the plant on probation. Two days before the plant partially resumed operations in January 2022, Apple said that it would continue to monitor conditions at workers’ dorms and dining facilities.

Married ‘not allowed’

In addition to the sisters, Parvathi and Janaki, Reuters spoke to five other women who said they were rejected by Foxconn’s hiring vendors on the grounds that they were married.

Priya Darshini received the news in a WhatsApp group chat, which a recruiter from SS Enterprises, one of the hiring agencies, had created to scout for candidates.

Darshini posed questions to the group in August 2023, according to a transcript reviewed by Reuters: “I have a baby. Are there child care facilities? Could I bring my baby? Age is 2. Salary?”

The recruiter, T. Balu, sent a curt reply: Married “not allowed.”

Asked about his response, Balu told Reuters that Foxconn does not hire married women, who wear ornaments, because it wants to ensure a metal-free zone.

Darshini, who is in her late 20s, told Reuters she is seeking help from friends and family to find a job that would allow her to care for her child.

Paul, the former HR executive, said Foxconn management advises its hiring vendors not to mention marital and age criteria in their job ads.

But in some instances, vendors did not heed that advice.

“Job vacancy for Only Female … iPhone Manufacturing … Age: 19 to 30 Unmarried,” said an ad posted by a recruiter at Proodle, a hiring agency for Foxconn, in a publicly accessible WhatsApp group in February 2024.

A YouTube ad for Foxconn jobs posted by recruiter Cumans Manpower in July last year sought “unmarried only” female candidates aged 18 to 28.

A recruiter with SS Enterprises also posted a Facebook ad in September 2023 that specified the same requirements and contained a link to a Foxconn job application. The ad became inaccessible in late May after Reuters sent questions to SS Enterprises for this story.

When Reuters visited Sriperumbudur in March 2023, a recruiter was standing outside the Foxconn plant and wearing a badge of the hiring agency Groveman Global. She handed a job pamphlet to a Reuters reporter. It advertised mobile-phone manufacturing roles, which the recruiter, who identified herself only as Kaviya, said were Foxconn assembly positions.

The pamphlet stated the jobs were for “unmarried women” aged 18 to 32, with a monthly salary of about $163 for those who live in company hostels and $220 for those who don’t. Foxconn doesn’t hire married women, Kaviya told Reuters, without elaborating.

None of the hiring agencies identified by Reuters responded to questions about the job ads and employment practices at the Foxconn plant.

Proodle, Cumans, Groveman and SS Enterprises are among the agencies registered by Foxconn as contractors with the Tamil Nadu government for providing assembly line helpers, according to copies of contractor licenses Reuters obtained from the state government under India’s Right to Information Act.

Suppliers that violate Apple’s code of conduct can face probation, suspension and even lose their entire business with Apple. The company said in its 2024 supply chain report that since 2009, it has removed 25 manufacturing supplier facilities and 231 material processors for failure to meet its standards.

In China, at least six online job ads reviewed by Reuters show workers engaged in iPhone assembly at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant can earn $400 to $800 a month, more than double the wages in India. The Chinese ads do not mention marital status or gender, saying anyone aged 18 to 48 can apply.

Concealing status

In Sriperumbudur, a road junction a little over a mile from the Foxconn plant is a hotspot for recruiters to meet candidates. Many jobseekers travel with their families from far-flung villages; if hired they are expected to start immediately.

If a married woman somehow makes it inside for an interview during the typical hiring season, Foxconn officials remain on the lookout for telltale metal ornaments, according to one current and one former Foxconn HR executive. Those wearing the ornaments are then turned away with the explanation that there had been a miscommunication or that recruitment had been paused, the people said.

But there are ways to bypass the system.

After she and her sister were turned away at the factory gate, Parvathi told Reuters that their recruiter, whose name she did not know, told them they should have removed their ornaments to conceal their marital status and gain entry.

Five recruitment agency officials also said candidates can conceal their marital status to secure jobs if their Indian government-issued ID card, known as Aadhaar, still reflects them as unmarried.

M. Malathi, a Cumans recruiter, said candidates who had not updated their marital status on Aadhaar and were willing to remove ornaments “could be helped by manpower agencies, and Cumans does help.”

Reuters spoke to a married woman from a town near Chennai, who said she used that strategy to work at Foxconn for a year, undetected, before quitting for personal reasons in 2023.

“It helped that I didn’t wear metal ornaments to work,” said the woman. Reuters is withholding her name so as not to harm her future prospects.

“You don't need many educational qualifications. I liked it there. I want to go back when the opportunity comes.”

Additional reporting by Jatindra Dash in Bhubaneswar, India, Sethuraman N R in Bengaluru, and Shanghai Newsroom

By Praveen Paramasivam, Munsif Vengattil and Aditya Kalra

Photo editing: Edgar Su

Art direction: Catherine Tai

Edited by David Crawshaw

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