A September 2018 report by MeBIC partner New American Economy details the economic contributions of immigrants in Portland. The report was the product of a collaboration including the City of Portland’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Greater Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce as part of the Gateways for Growth Challenge.
Among the highlights of the report:
- In 2016, metro-Portland’s immigrants contribute $1.2 billion to the region’s GDP.
- In 2016, metro-Portland’s immigrants paid $195 million in federal, state and local taxes as well as $72 million towards Social Security and Medicare.
- They outperform their numbers in entrepreneurship and in their participation in the labor force.
- Nearly 37% of metro-Portland’s immigrants have bachelors or advanced degrees (compared to 30% for U.S. born Mainers), and over 56% are homeowners.
- Over 75% of population growth in Portland and surrounding cities from 2011 to 2016 was due to immigrants.
Read the full report here.