Short answer: In most advanced economies—especially the United States—abruptly stopping immigration would likely create or worsen labor shortages in several sectors. The size and duration of the shortages depend on economic conditions and how broadly “stopping” is defined (all visas vs. some, temporary vs. permanent).
Why shortages are likely
•Demographics: Many economies have aging populations and low fertility. Immigration is a major source of labor-force growth; removing it tightens supply over time.
•Occupational concentration: Immigrants are overrepresented in specific jobs—agriculture, food processing, construction, hospitality, trucking, cleaning services, home health/eldercare, and also in parts of healthcare and STEM. Halting inflows hits these harder.
•Complementarities: Immigrant workers and founders often complement native workers (e.g., engineers enabling larger teams, caregivers enabling higher labor-force participation of family members). Losing them can reduce output rather than simply “freeing up” jobs.
What would happen
•Tighter hiring and higher wages in affected roles, alongside higher prices for goods and services tied to those roles (food, housing construction, childcare/eldercare, some medical services).
•Slower firm expansion, longer wait times, or production cuts where tasks are hard to automate or relocate.
•More offshoring and investment in automation, though both take time and capital.
•Slower overall economic and tax-base growth, with fiscal pressure rising as retirees grow faster than workers.
When it might not cause noticeable shortages
•During recessions or in regions/sectors with slack labor, employers may fill roles without immigrant inflows for a while. As demand rebounds, constraints typically reappear.
Non-immigration ways to ease shortages (partial offsets)
•Raise job quality: higher pay, predictable schedules, benefits, safer conditions.
•Expand training/apprenticeships; streamline licensing and credential recognition; relocate training to where shortages are acute.
•Boost participation: childcare support, transportation/housing near jobs, second-chance hiring, disability accommodations, phased retirement.
•Productivity: accelerate automation where feasible (e.g., ag tech, warehouse robotics), process improvements, and permitting reforms that reduce non-labor bottlenecks.
Bottom line: Stopping immigration would almost certainly tighten labor markets and produce persistent shortages in certain sectors, especially care, agriculture, construction, hospitality, and some healthcare/STEM roles. Other policies can cushion the impact, but they rarely replace immigrant labor one-for-one, particularly in the near term. If you want, I can break this down with current U.S. sector-by-sector figures.