Immigrants to Michigan provide an overall benefits to the state’s economy, according to a report published by the Michigan League for Human Services.
Highlights from the report include these key points:
• Immigrants are responsible for 33 percent of all hightech startups, making Michigan third among all states in producing new high-tech business opportunities.
• In 2006, 22 percent of the international patent applications from Michigan listed a foreign-born resident as one of their key inventors, ranking Michigan 8th in the nation.
• During the 2008-2009 year, foreign students contributed $592 million to the local economy in tuition, fees, and living expenses.
• In 2008, 37 percent of the Michigan immigrant population had a college degree, an increase of 27 percent since 2000.
• 44 percent of all engineering master’s degrees and 62 percent of engineering doctorates are awarded to foreign-born students in the state.
• Michigan stands to lose over $3.8 billion in economic activity, $1.7 billion in gross state product, and approximately 20,000 jobs with the removal of all unauthorized workers from the labor force.