Mid-Michigan — Immigrants are playing a critical role in bolstering the economy and workforce of mid-Michigan, according to a new report released today by the American Immigration Council in partnership with the Michigan Global Talent Coalition.
Titled Contributions of New Americans in Mid-Michigan, the study examines the impact of immigrants across 10 counties—Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Osceola, and Saginaw—revealing their significant economic contributions despite making up just 2.1% of the region’s population.
Key Economic Contributions
In 2022, the 12,700 immigrants in mid-Michigan held $407.4 million in spending power and contributed:
- $103.5 million in federal taxes
- $46.8 million in state and local taxes
“This report quantifies how immigrants are driving economic growth in mid-Michigan,” said Rich André, Director of State and Local Initiatives at the American Immigration Council. “Many possess advanced degrees or specialized skills, making them essential to filling workforce gaps in high-demand sectors like healthcare.”
Highly Educated Workforce
The findings challenge common misconceptions about immigrants, revealing that:
- 46.4% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher
- 30.4% have an advanced degree
“Mid-Michigan’s immigrant college education rates rival those of tech hubs like Seattle and Austin—and even surpass major cities like New York and Chicago,” said Steve Tobocman, Executive Director of Global Detroit. “This data dispels the negative stereotypes often pushed in political rhetoric.”
Stabilizing Population and Labor Force
The report also highlights how immigration is helping offset regional population decline:
From 2017 to 2022, mid-Michigan’s overall population dropped by 1.4%, while the immigrant population grew by 2.3%.
Immigrants are 21.9% more likely to be of working age than U.S.-born residents.
Though just 2.1% of the population, they make up 2.7% of the employed workforce.
Supporting Diverse Industries
Immigrants fill critical roles across the skills spectrum:
- 30.4% hold advanced degrees, supporting high-skilled industries.
- 17.1% have less than a high school education, contributing to essential labor sectors.
Global Talent Summit to Foster Connections
The report’s findings will be a focal point at the Mid-Michigan Global Talent Summit on April 22 at Central Michigan University. The event, hosted by Global Detroit, the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, and Mid-Michigan Development, aims to connect employers with skilled international talent to address workforce shortages.
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