How Immigration Contributes to Economic Growth

Based in San Francisco, California, Christopher Stender is an immigration attorney with extensive experience in US immigration law and policies. Christopher Stender has handled numerous cases and is an active member of various professional organizations, such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Arizona and San Diego chapters. 

Immigration directly fuels the growth of a country’s economy in several ways. Highly educated immigrants are a great asset, as they contribute to innovation and wealth creation. In the United States, one-third of innovations are attributed to skilled immigrants such as scientists and engineers. 

Immigrants are usually entrepreneurial, and they start new businesses that help boost per capita gross domestic product. Immigrants are often more willing than native citizens to move to economically stagnant regions, thus helping to save stagnant regions from wage decline and boost productivity in strong labor markets. 

The home services sector in the United States and Europe gets a majority of its workforce from immigrants. Industries such as gardening, cleaning, food service, and child and elderly care employ many immigrants. This creates opportunities for more-educated natives to work in other sectors to boost economic growth.