New Research: New Americans Shape the Economic and Political Future of WA State

The Immigration Policy Center just released new research on Washington State that shows that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are an important part of Washington's economy, labor force, and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers, and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, Latinos, Asians and immigrants will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of the Evergreen State. They also have key voting power.

 Highlights include:

•  Immigrants made up one-in-eight (12.3%) Washingtonians (or 795,179 people) in 2007.

•  41.8% of immigrants in 2007 (or 332,755 people) in Washington were naturalized U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote.

•  7.5% (or 231,755) of registered voters in Washington were “New Americans”—naturalized citizens or the U.S.-born children of immigrants who were raised during the current era of immigration from Latin America and Asia which began in 1965

•  Latinos accounted for 4.8% (or 148,000) of Washington voters in the 2008 elections, and Asians 4.3% (132,000)

•  The purchasing power of Asians totaled $16.6 billion and Latino buying power totaled $13.4 billion in Washington in 2009.

•  If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Washington, the state could lose $14.5 billion in economic activity, $6.4 billion in gross state product, and approximately 71,197 jobs.

The numbers add up--there is no denying the contributions that immigrants make in Washington and the important role they will play in the state's political and economic future.

 For more data on immigrants' contributions to the Evergreen State, view the IPC fact sheet.

 Also check out OneAmerica’s report from April 2009 on the economic contributions of immigrants to WA.