Short answer: In most advanced economies, yes—halting immigration would likely create or worsen labor shortages, especially over time. The effect varies by sector and how abruptly immigration stops.
Why it tends to cause shortages
•Slower labor-force growth: With low native fertility and an aging population, immigration is a main source of new workers. Removing it tightens overall labor supply year after year.
•Sector concentration: Immigrant workers are disproportionately present in specific jobs—seasonal agriculture, food service, construction, home health/personal care, and also many STEM and healthcare roles—so vacancies would spike there first.
•Training pipeline limits: Some roles (nurses, caregivers, electricians, software engineers, PhDs) take years to train. A sudden stop can’t be backfilled quickly by domestic workers.
•Geography and job quality: Many of these jobs are in places, schedules, or conditions that native workers are less likely to accept at current wages.
What could offset the shortages (partially)
•Higher wages and better conditions that pull more native-born workers in or keep older workers employed longer.
•Automation and process redesign (e.g., robotics in agriculture/warehouses; AI in some white-collar tasks).
•Offshoring/outsourcing of work to where labor is available.
•Expanded training, licensing reform, and mobility supports (childcare, transport, housing near jobs).
Trade-offs to expect
•Upward wage pressure in affected sectors, alongside higher prices for goods/services (food, construction, eldercare).
•Slower GDP and innovation growth if high-skilled immigration also stops (universities, startups, and R&D rely heavily on it).
•Increased fiscal pressure as the population ages faster relative to the workforce.
Bottom line: A complete stop would almost certainly tighten labor markets and produce persistent shortages in several sectors unless accompanied by significant, costly adjustments. The magnitude depends on which types of immigration are halted (seasonal, family, high-skill, student), how quickly, and the country’s demographics.
If you tell me the country and whether you mean all immigration or specific channels (e.g., seasonal visas, high-skill), I can sketch more precise impacts and timelines.