Federal, state, and Tribal policies focused on full employment could have a significant effect on the lives and livelihoods of American Indians and Alaska Natives (collectively called Native Americans in this brief). While the overall employment rate for Native Americans has been trending upward over the last two decades, many working-age members of the population remain jobless. As a result, they do not realize the substantial individual, family, and community benefits their employment would generate. For example, if Native Americans of prime working-age (25 to 54 years old) were to achieve the same employment rate as prime-age workers nationally, they could bring an additional $7 billion of annual earnings to their households and local economies.

This brief considers both recent changes in the employment situation of Native Americans and strategies for continued improvement.