Michigan: State-by-State Immigration Trends Introduction Foreign-Born Population Educational Attainment

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Julianna Stokes
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Michigan: State-by-State Immigration Trends Courtesy of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota Prepared in 2012 for the Task Force on US Economic Competitiveness at

Policies that attract and retain foreign-born workers will be key to the future prosperity of the state.

contributions to cover the costs of Social Security and Medicare. A steady influx of immigrant workers is essential to maintaining a young and productive work force.

1 Michigan: State-by-State Immigration Trends Courtesy of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota Prepared in 2012 for the Task Force on US Economic Competitiveness at Risk: A Midwest Call to Action on Immigration Reform Introduction Of all the states in the Midwest, Michigan and particularly Detroit has been the hardest hit by the recession. Policies that attract and retain foreign-born workers will be key to the future prosperity of the state. As is the case across the US, the most dramatic demographic shift in Michigan today is the aging of the population a development that increases the tax burden on young workers who make payroll contributions to cover the costs of Social Security and Medicare. A steady influx of immigrant workers is essential to maintaining a young and productive work force. Foreign-Born Population Michigan has the second-highest foreign-born population in the Midwest after Illinois. However, its percentage of foreign-born residents (6%) is less than half the national average. Educational Attainment Immigrants in Michigan are both more and less educated than native-born residents. As a group, they are both more likely to have a graduate or professional degree and less likely to have a high school diploma than their native-born counterparts. Nationally and throughout the Midwest, children of immigrants tend to attain higher levels of education than their parents. Educational attainment is a very important dimension of integration, as it influences potential income and English-language proficiency.

Employment and Wages Since 2000, immigrants have been working in middle-skilled positions at a

Yet the greatest projected numbers of new jobs require little education or training.

residents have a strong command of English.

2 Employment and Wages Since 2000, immigrants have been working in middle-skilled positions at a higher rate than any other kind of employment. Yet the greatest projected numbers of new jobs require little education or training. English Proficiency As is the case across the Midwest, a large majority of Michigan s foreign-born residents have a strong command of English. Geographic Distribution Michigan s rural areas saw the most dramatic increase in their foreign-born residents between 2000 and Detroit is home to the largest proportion of foreign-born residents amongst Michigan s cities.

Labor Force Data While it represents a modest proportion of the state s overall labor force, the foreign-born work force

While the native-born population and the total labor force both experienced negative growth between 2000 and 2010, the

Almost half of immigrant workers in Michigan were born in Asia, and almost a quarter are from Europe.

citizens of the United States, a process which requires knowledge of American civics, history, and basic English

3 Labor Force Data While it represents a modest proportion of the state s overall labor force, the foreign-born work force in Michigan grew 11 times faster than the native-born work force between 1990 and While the native-born population and the total labor force both experienced negative growth between 2000 and 2010, the foreign-born work force did not. Almost half of immigrant workers in Michigan were born in Asia, and almost a quarter are from Europe. Naturalization and Voting Patterns A clear measure of integration is the rate at which immigrants become naturalized citizens of the United States, a process which requires knowledge of American civics, history, and basic English proficiency. In Michigan, nearly 80% of immigrants who entered the country before 1980 were naturalized citizens, consistent with national numbers. In Michigan, 55% of immigrants who entered the country in the 1990s were naturalized citizens, almost 15% higher than the national average.

Poverty Naturalized citizens experienced a slightly lower poverty rate than native-born citizens, who in

4 Poverty Naturalized citizens experienced a slightly lower poverty rate than native-born citizens, who in turn experienced a considerably lower poverty rate than non-citizens, indicating a progressive level of assimilation. Refugees in Michigan Over the past decade, Michigan has welcomed 23,547 refugees from 49 countries. As of FY 2010, refugees have made up 3.6% of the state s total foreign-born population, more than double the proportion nationwide. Despite a struggling Detroit economy, 20% of all Iraqi refugees settle in Detroit, mostly due to the lure of family ties and the prospect of support from the local Arab- American community.

5 Conclusion Despite economic challenges and low rates of foreign-born population growth, Michigan has become the largest Iraqi refugee community in the region and is implementing new initiatives to attract immigrants. Even as the majority of foreign-born immigrants are concentrated in Detroit, many have started to move into suburban, rural and other urban areas. They represent an important increase in the state s labor force, both in low- and high-skilled jobs.

Illinois: State-by-State Immigration Trends Introduction Foreign-Born Population Educational Attainment

Illinois: State-by-State Immigration Trends Courtesy of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota Prepared in 2012 for the Task Force on US Economic Competitiveness at Risk: