The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. of Malden recently published its report on the demographics and economic statistics of the immigrant community of Massachusetts. The report was prepared by The Institute for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
MIRA Coalition is very pleased with the results. One of the goals of the Immigrant Learning Center is to raise the visibility of immigrants as assets to America, and the report has surly helped do so in Massachusetts. The report touches on many statistics about the state’s immigrant community, which makes up 14.1% of Massachusetts residents. These statistics range from those on education levels to social services received by and income tax percentages generated by immigrants.
One of the most emphasized sections of the report is that on labor force growth due to immigration. The report states that in 2007 21.6% of the Massachusetts population between 25 and 44 were immigrants, meaning that this population will be filling the positions left by retiring baby boomers and therefore paying a higher percentage of taxes. Even today, immigrants pay higher into the state income tax system, yet receive social services and transfer payments at similar levels as natives.
Eva Millona, the Executive Director of MIRA, says that the report “shows was MIRA has always contended-that immigrants play a major role in the economic and cultural life of our commonwealth…They pay into the system and take out of the system at about the same rate as the native-born population.” MIRA hopes that this report will influence and state lawmakers to move in a positive direction on issues of immigration – such as passing the Governor’s supplementary budget that will partially restore the drastic CommCare cuts discussed in our BlueMass group post and website.
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