New Data on the Greater New Orleans Area Shows the Economic Impact of Immigrant Population
Today, local leaders showcased new research on the contributions of immigrants in the Greater New Orleans Area, specifically highlighting tax contributions, spending power, workforce composition and entrepreneurial characteristics. Spearheaded by New American Economy (NAE), the data release marks the launch of Map the Impact—a campaign to highlight the economic power of immigrants in communities across the country.
This effort arms business, civic, and cultural leaders with new data on immigrant populations in all 435 Congressional Districts and 50 metro areas. Featured in an interactive map that also includes state- and sector-specific data, NAE quantifies every locality’s foreign-born population, tax contributions, spending power, home ownership, and voting power, among other items.
“The economic narrative surrounding the contributions of immigrant populations is particularly important to the people of New Orleans. Not only are we a global city by nature, but we are in an unprecedented period of growth that allows us to recognize new talent and opportunities to make our city as competitive as possible,” said Rep. Leger (D-New Orleans). “When you combine New Orleanians who have been here for decades with New Orleanians who have recently decided to make this city their home, then you have a formidable combination of strength and spirit that will usher us confidently into our next 300 years.”
In the Greater New Orleans Area, Map the Impact shows:
- There are 93,142 foreign-born residents who make up 7.4 percent of the area’s population.
- Immigrants paid $721.7M in state and local taxes and held $2.0B in spending power in 2014.
- Immigrants are 72.4% percent more likely to be entrepreneurs than the native population, and there are 10,329 immigrant entrepreneurs in the Greater New Orleans Area.
- Immigrants own 18,804 homes and help to build the area’s housing wealth.
- Immigrants make up 25.3 percent of the Administrative Support industry, 22.1 percent of the Construction industry, and 15.5 percent in General Services, and more.
At the Congressional District level, Map the Impact shows that in District 2:
- There are 44,036 foreign-born residents who make up 5.7 percent of the area’s population.
- Immigrants paid $287.6M in state and local taxes and held $897.5M in spending power in 2014.
- Immigrants are 63 percent more likely to be entrepreneurs than the native population, and there are 2.085 immigrant entrepreneurs in Congressional District 2.
- Immigrants own 8,427 homes and help to build the area’s housing wealth.
- Immigrants make up 22.7 percent of the Construction industry, 19.7 percent of the Agriculture industry, and 14.5 percent in General Services, and more.
Visit Map the Impact for state, city, and district information that will help leaders grasp the influence of immigrants in America.
More information can be found at www.NewAmericanEconomy.org