The New Jersey Office of New Americans says that almost 2 million immigrants and refugees live and work within the state. There has been some debate about whether immigration is good for the United States economy.
One side argues that immigrants take valuable jobs away from those born in the United States. However, the other side points to evidence that immigration is positive for the country’s economy.
Helping the economy
A 2023 CNBC article states that there are nearly 4 million more jobs available than people seeking jobs. Economists believe that immigration is an efficient way to expand the U.S. labor force and get jobs filled.
Immigrants often do jobs that require manual labor or low-skilled workers. Important service roles such as cook, housekeeper and janitor are often filled by immigrants in restaurants, hotels, hospitals and schools.
Industries such as construction and agriculture also have a significant amount of immigrant workers. Although these are just a few examples, they show how some immigrants help keep certain industries going.
Immigrants are a diverse group of people who have a wide range of skills and qualifications. Most might occupy low-skilled job positions, but others fill high-skilled positions that also contribute to the growth of the U.S. economy.
New jobs
Immigrants make it possible for American businesses to expand and maintain operations. Some immigrants also contribute to the creation of new industries and create jobs.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) did a study that found that immigrants in the U.S. are 80% more likely than native-born Americans to start businesses and create jobs. The study goes on to say that immigrants are more often job creators instead of job takers.
It’s noted that some of the most successful and largest companies in the U.S. were founded by immigrants or their children. For example, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is the son of a Cuban immigrant. Both Apple founders, Steve Jobs and Jeff Wozniak, had parents who were immigrants.
Immigrants make up less than 14% of the U.S. population. However, an estimated 25% of U.S. entrepreneurs are immigrants. The debate over the benefits of immigration will likely continue in the near future, even though there is significant evidence that immigration does tremendously help the economy.
