Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees - GCIR

The need for a workforce to fill middle-skill jobs, those requiring more education than high school but less than a bachelor's degree, will likely remain strong in the coming years. Because Baby Boomer retirements will occur most rapidly in the lower to middle ranges of skills and immigrants are more likely to fill the bottom and top jobs, expanded educational opportunities and workforce training programs will be essential for less-educated workers to meet the demands of the U.S. economy.

There is nationwide concern that undocumented immigrants are a drain on state and local governments, costing taxpayers and contributing little back to the economy. This study estimates the size of the undocumented population in Virginia and finds that this population is an important contributor to state resources by paying taxes.

In recent decades, cities across America have experienced demographic change, due in part to changing patterns of migration.  Immigrants are key members of their communities and have a greater level of self-employment compared to native born residents.  This report examines the revitalization of three Boston neighborhoods - Allston Village, East Boston, and Fields Corner - and the role that immigrant entrepreneurs have played in economic development.

Trends in the U.S. economy and labor force over the past 30 years have implications for the workforce and for low-wage workers and their families in particular.  This article discusses the increased diversity in the workforce, the growing need for low-skilled workers, the skills gap between high- and low-skilled workers, and the number of working poor in the United States.

This study combines updated statistics, original calculations, and reviews of academic research to describe the impact of immigrants on the U.S. labor market. It presents detailed information on educational, occupational, and the wage status of high- and low-wage immigrant workers; and looks at implications for the future as baby boomers exit the labor force.

The analysis paints a detailed picture of the penalties of wages and living conditions imposed on undocumented workers by their lack of legal status, with results relevant to other large urban areas where the undocumented are concentrated. A survey of 1,323 immigrant workers found Latin American workers earned less than other comparable workers (22 percent for men and 36 percent for women) and reported higher levels of unsafe working conditions, wage-and-hour violations, and lack of health insurance.

Immigration is one of the United States’ most distinguishing characteristics, helping to drive economic growth and define national identity since the country’s founding. However, the integration of newcomers has always presented serious challenges for both the newcomers and the communities that receive them. The report offers an in-depth look at the historical context for integration.

There are 4.1 million minority-owned businesses in the United States, based in a wide variety of industries from financial services and construction to health care, transportation, and many others.  This report, State of Minority Business Enterprises: An Overview of the 2002 Survey of Business Owners, examines the contributions of minority business owners from 2002, finding that these businesses contributed $668 billion in annual sales and employed about 4.7 million people.  The report explores trends in minority business enterprises (MBEs) and provides benchmarks for further development that aims to influence the creation of policies and programs to support and encourage MBEs in the United States.

Although immigration is crucial to the growth of the U.S. labor force and yields a net fiscal benefit to the U.S. economy, current immigration policies fail to respond to actual labor demand. Immigration has become the key to growth in the U.S. labor force, according to the Economic Report of the President 2005 and other data sources. This study explores the importance of immigration to the U.S. economy.

This analysis shows the striking propensity of immigrants to start and grow successful American companies, particularly in the technology field. The study's findings reflect the benefits of an open policy toward legal immigration. However, it also reveals that current restrictions on skilled immigrants are likely to result in less job creation and innovation for America.