Study finds immigration and economic growth go “hand in hand”

Today, the Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP) reported on a new study from the New York based, Fiscal Policy Institute. The findings: Immigration and economic growth go hand in hand.

For their report, Immigrants and the Economy: Contribution of Immigrant Workers to the Country's 25 Largest Metropolitan Areas, the Fiscal Policy Institute examined the economic impact of all foreign-born workers, including undocumented immigrants, in the nation’s 25 largest metropolitan areas.

OCPP said in a press release today that the Fiscal Policy Institute shared additional data about the Portland Metropolitan Area, not included in their report.

According to the data, immigrants in the Portland MetroArea constitute about 12 percent of the population and generate about 12 percent of the economic output. This one to one ratio is said to be consistent throughout the 25 metropolitan areas studied.

The results of the study provides further evidence of why passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform is so critical for the economic recovery of the United States. In an interview with OCPP, Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA, adds that, “A path to citizenship for undocumented workers would allow them to contribute even more to Portland and Oregon’s economy,” Lopez said. “It would make undocumented immigrants less vulnerable to exploitation, lifting the bar for all workers, and provide the security needed to start a business. Everyone would win.”

To read the press release from the Oregon Center for Public Policy, please link here. There you can find links to the full report from the Fiscal Policy Institute.

Posted in: economy,Fiscal Policy Institute,Immigration Reform,Oregon Center for Public Policy,Portland