New report highlights the economic impact of immigrants in East Texas
A report released on September 20, 2023, by the American Immigration Council in collaboration with Texans for Economic Growth and the Longview Chamber of Commerce emphasizes the indispensable role that immigrants play in East Texas's economy. The report comes at a time when businesses in the region face significant workforce shortages.
"It’s clear that these immigrants are punching well above their weight and are crucial contributors to the local economy," said Chelsie Kramer, Texas state organizer for the American Immigration Council and Texans for Economic Growth.
The study uncovers key findings, including that immigrants contributed millions in taxes and consumer spending. In 2021, immigrant households in East Texas had a combined income of $1.4 billion. Of this, $188.4 million went to federal taxes and $123.8 million to state and local taxes. The remainder—about $1.1 billion—stands as their spending power, which cycles back into local economies.
"Immigrants impact every corner of our state in myriad critical industries; it’s no different in East Texas, where we see the immigrant share of the region’s total population is 7.2 percent but account for 10.2 percent of its employed population," said Kramer.
Furthermore, the data points out that immigrants are instrumental in filling labor gaps in the region. In 2021, 84.2% of immigrants were of working age, compared to 59.5% of the U.S.-born population. They also held a disproportionately high percentage of jobs in several sectors: 27.1% in construction, 15.9% in hospitality, and 14.8% in manufacturing.
The report also shows that immigrants are contributing as entrepreneurs. In 2021, they accounted for 15.6% of business owners in East Texas and were 61.7% more likely to be entrepreneurs than their U.S-born counterparts.
DACA-eligible immigrants also play a vital role. In 2019, DACA-eligible households earned $35.0 million, paid nearly $7.0 million in taxes, and had $28.2 million in spending power.
"The workforce shortage continues to be priority #1 for our business community. Working with organizations like the American Immigration Council is critical in having reliable data to navigate national policy," said Longview Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Kelly Hall.
