Immigrants will soon represent the fastest-growing share of the U.S. labor force, according to a recent report by the Pew Research Center.

As Baby Boomers enter retirement, researchers predict that new arrivals from other nations will fill many of the gaps in the workforce.

“…the gospel of Jesus Christ compels us to minister to all who live or work within our country.”

The report estimates the number of U.S.-born working-age adults (ages 25 to 64) whose parents were also born in the U.S. will decline by 8.2 million people by 2035. Pew says U.S.-born people with immigrant parents will help offset the decline, increasing this group’s representation in the workforce by 13.6 million members during the same period. In addition, millions of foreign-born immigrants will likely arrive to join the U.S. workforce, Pew says.

“Assuming current trends continue, future immigrants and their U.S.-born children will account for 88 percent of the nation’s population growth between 2015 and 2065,” the Pew report says.

The report has implications for church leaders seeking to reach and disciple an increasingly diverse U.S. population. Immigrant arrivals present new opportunities for churches to evangelize people from many nations.

In 2006, the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God General Council released a statement on immigration that says, “Apart from issues related to governmental jurisdiction, we believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ compels us to minister to all who live or work within our country.”