Report on New Americans in Denver Highlights Economic Contributions of Immigrants
Report on New Americans in Denver Highlights Economic Contributions of Immigrants
A new report by PNAE, AS/COA, and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce highlights the economic and demographic impact of immigrants in Denver.
Foreign-born households in Denver generate $6.9 billion in spending power, contribute more than $1 billion to Social Security and Medicare.
New York, October 27, 2015 –– This Wednesday, business, government, and community leaders will gather for “Growth in the New West: Maximizing Immigrant Contributions to Denver’s Prosperity,” an event convened by Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) and the Partnership for a New American Economy (PNAE) in partnership with the Office of Mayor Michael B. Hancock and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. Speakers will discuss how immigrants have contributed to the growth and vitality of the metro area, and how the city can work across sectors to bolster its competitive edge by attracting and integrating international communities. In conjunction with the event, PNAE, AS/COA, and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce released a report on the economic and demographic role of Denver’s immigrant population.
“Denver provides yet another example of a great American city that enjoys the dynamism immigrants bring to local industries and communities,” said John Feinblatt, Chairman of the Partnership for a New American Economy. “This research shows how immigrants play important roles in the region’s largest industries, strengthen the local tax base, and start businesses that create additional jobs in the metro area and across Colorado.”
“Immigration has become a political football in the presidential campaign, but the facts clearly show it’s great for our country,” said Brian Winter, Vice President of Policy at Americas Society/Council of the Americas. “We must continue to highlight the contributions of the millions of immigrants who make our cities stronger and help our economies grow.”
“Diversity and inclusion are essential for strong regional economic growth, and this new research puts that into real terms,” said Kelly Brough, CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. “Immigrants in the Denver region are contributing their ideas, talents, and skills to our community and making Denver a more exciting and vibrant place for all of our residents.”
“New Americans in Denver” finds:
- Foreign-born households account for more than $6.9 billion in spending power and contribute more than $673 million in taxes to state and local budgets.
- In 2013, immigrants in the Denver metro area contributed more than $1 billion to Social Security and more than $256 million to Medicare.
- Between 2010 and 2013, the foreign-born population of Denver’s metropolitan area accounted for 17.5 percent of total population growth.
- More than one in four professional, scientific, or technical service workers in Denver is foreign-born.
- Foreign-born workers make up large shares of the workforce in Denver’s construction (28.6 percent), automotive (22.5 percent), and accommodation and food service (19.8 percent) industries.
- Immigrants are active in providing healthcare services to the region, making up 12 percent of industry workers.
- In 2010, 4,427 manufacturing jobs were preserved or created in Denver county due to the influx of immigrants.
Adriana La Rotta, Americas Society/Council of the Americas, alarotta@as-coa.org
Sarah Doolin, Partnership for a New American Economy, sarah@renewoureconomy.org
The Partnership for a New American Economy brings together more than 500 Republican, Democratic and Independent mayors and business leaders who support immigration reforms that will help create jobs for Americans today. The Partnership’s members include mayors of more than 35 million people nationwide and business leaders of companies that generate more than $1.5 trillion and employ more than 4 million people across all sectors of the economy, from Agriculture to Aerospace, Hospitality to High Tech and Media to Manufacturing. Partnership members understand that immigration is essential to maintaining the productive, diverse and flexible workforce that America needs to ensure prosperity over the coming generations. Learn more at www.RenewOurEconomy.org.
Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) unite opinion leaders to exchange ideas and create solutions to the challenges of the Americas today. Americas Society (AS), the recipient of a grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to produce this research, was established by David Rockefeller in 1965 and is the premier forum dedicated to education, debate and dialogue in the Americas. Council of the Americas (COA), affiliate organization to AS, is the premier international business organization whose members share a common commitment to economic and social development, open markets, the rule of law, and democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere. Recognizing the link between U.S. immigration and overall hemispheric relations, AS/COA launched its Immigration and Integration Initiative in 2007 to draw on its public–private convening power to bring together key constituencies in new gateway cities and to produce research on the link between changing demographics and economic competitiveness.
For nearly 150 years, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a leading voice for Colorado’s business community. With a membership that spans the seven-county metro region and includes 3,000 businesses and their 300,000 employees, the Chamber is a powerful and effective advocate for both small and large businesses at the local, state and federal levels. As business leaders committed to creating a healthy business climate, the Chamber focuses on key issues: a solid multimodal transportation infrastructure; access to quality, affordable health care; and a competitive primary, secondary and higher education system.
