How immigration can power the future of America’s heartland – By Worth Sparkman, Linh Ta (Axios) / May 26 2021
More foreign-born immigrants are moving to the center of the U.S. than in the past, according to a new report by Heartland Forward.
Why it matters: With population growth in the U.S. slower than it has been for the last 100 years, both highly-skilled and lower-skilled industries across America have come to rely more on immigrants to power their workforces.
- Many states’ populations would be shrinking if not for immigrants, the New York Times reported last year.
- Immigrants’ children typically achieve significant upward mobility. A 2016 population survey showed 38% of 2nd-generation immigrants completed college, compared to 32% of 1st-generation immigrants and 33% of native-born Americans.
The big picture: The report’s findings counter perceptions that immigrants tend to settle on the coasts “because they’re not welcome” in the middle of the country, Ross DeVol, president and CEO of Heartland Forward, told Axios.
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