Study Links Immigration, Job Growth
Study Links Immigration, Job Growth
A study by AS/COA and Partnership for a New American Economy shows immigration has helped to bolster home values and retain U.S. manufacturing jobs over the last 30 years.
ST. LOUIS • St. Louis-area business leaders lately have been pushing the idea that more immigration here will help jump-start the region’s economy.
Now they have more economic evidence to help make the case.
A study out last week shows that immigration over the last 30 years has helped bolster home values and retain manufacturing jobs in cities across the U.S. And the cities that have drawn more immigration have fared better on both fronts.
Using census data analyzed by a Duke University economist, the report argues that for every 1,000 foreign-born residents, a county has 46 more manufacturing jobs than it otherwise would, because it has a larger pool of potential workers with a wider variety of skills. In St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County, the report estimated, that translates into an additional 4,389 manufacturing jobs combined.
Tarrant County, Texas — in and around Fort Worth — has about the same size overall population. Yet, its higher immigration rate equates to 12,500 extra manufacturing jobs.
The report also found that immigration helps boost home values by creating new demand for new homes, while also stabilizing prices in lower-income neighborhoods that might otherwise suffer population loss.
“We see the contributions of immigrants to our communities every day,” said Susan Segal, president of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, which funded the report along with the Partnership for a New American Economy, a pro-immigration group launched by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
“Yet again, this report shows how immigrants help keep our economy vibrant and strong,” Segal said.
To the people who are trying to boost St. Louis economy through immigration, a report like this is one more point in the argument....
