Immigrants Drive the Texas Economy
New Study Shows Benefits of Immigrants to the Lone Star State
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Immigrants in Texas are a critical component of the state’s economic vitality, according to a new report from the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP). The report shows that Texas is home to one of the largest highly-skilled workforces in the country, and immigrant-owned small businesses contribute billions of dollars each year to the Texas economy.
“The economic data show that immigrants in Texas are powering the state’s economy,” said Ann Beeson, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities. “Texas has always been home to people from many backgrounds, and it’s critical that policymakers remember how tied immigrant success is to the state’s success.”
Key findings in the report include:
- One in six Texans is an immigrant, with over 4.2 million immigrants calling the state home.
- Texas immigrants are a fifth of the state’s overall population of prime working age adults (16 -64).
- Small businesses owned by immigrants contributed $4.4 billion in earnings to the Texas economy in 2011.
- Texas is home to the 4th largest highly educated/skilled immigrant workforce in the country after California, New York, and Florida.
- In Texas, nearly two in five immigrants work in white-collar jobs, with an equal share (37 percent) working in blue-collar jobs.
- A quarter of all Texas immigrants live below the poverty line compared to 17.2 percent of U.S.-born Texans living in poverty.
This independent analysis comes the same week that the U.S. Census Bureau issues its annual population data, which demonstrate the growing role immigrants play in Texas society. This week also marks National Welcoming Week, a nationwide event organized by Welcoming America to highlight the contributions of immigrants to American communities.
CPPP encourages policymakers, civic leaders and the broader public to use the facts and figures to design policies and programs that enhance the economic potential of immigrants in the state.
