How immigration drives job creation as the birth rate falls

How immigration drives job creation, economic growth

What you probably already know: There’s a public perception that when immigrants come into the U.S. that they take jobs that would otherwise go to the people who are already in the country. The reality, however, is that the birth rate has declined in this country so much that, without immigrants, the U.S. economy will be in serious trouble. This is particularly true in certain sectors of the economy where workers are difficult to come by, including technology, health care, construction and agriculture. Immigrants make up 23% of all U.S. STEM workers, and the Department of Labor estimates that there are nearly 20,000 STEM jobs that will go unfilled every year for lack of qualified workers.

Why? When one worker comes to the U.S. for a job at a tech company, says immigration attorney Tahmina Watson, their contribution results in seven additional jobs. “Let’s say they work at Microsoft,” Watson said.” Well now they need an accountant. They need a doctor. They need…a gardener and a nanny.” This, she said, completely debunks the argument that they’re taking American jobs. If anything, immigration drives job creation.

What it means: The topic of immigration continues to be a political football, particularly in election years. That’s because it’s emotional, Watson said, and an easy way to get people riled up. Using that as a talking point doesn’t solve the challenges the U.S. faces when it comes to illegal immigration, but it does have an impact on the people who have immigrated to the country. People of Latin descent who come to the U.S. face harsher consequences for unauthorized entry than white people who came into the country in the exact same way. That systemic racism means it can be harder for that same population to get ahead.

What happens now? Despite the challenges, a new report out Thursday showed that Latina women’s contribution to the U.S. economy has grown by more than 50% in the last decade, now making up a $1.3 trillion contribution to the GDP. That’s larger than the entire state of Florida, according to the report. Latina women outperform other groups significantly, including when it comes to educational attainment and labor force participation.

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