New Americans in Alaska

The Political and Economic Power of Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians in the Frontier State (Updated January 2012)

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Immigrants and their children are growing shares of Alaska’s population and electorate.

• The foreign-born share of Alaska’s population rose from 4.5% in 1990, to 5.9% in 2000, to 6.9% in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Alaska was home to 49,319 immigrants in 2010.

• 48.9% of immigrants (or 24,102 people) in Alaska were naturalized U.S. citizens in 2010—meaning that they are eligible to vote.

• 6.9% (or 23,823) of registered voters in Alaska were “New Americans”—naturalized citizens or the U.S.-born children of immigrants who were raised during the current era of immigration from Latin America and Asia which began in 1965—according to an analysis of 2008 Census Bureau data by Rob Paral & Associates.

1 in 9 Alaskans are Latino or Asian.

• The Latino share of Alaska’s population grew from 3.2% in 1990, to 4.1% in 2000, to 5.5% (or 39,249 people) in 2010. The Asian share of the population grew from 3.2% in 1990, to 4.0% in 2000, to 5.4% (or 38,135 people) in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

• Latinos accounted for 2.6% (or 8,000) of Alaska voters in the 2008 elections, and Asians 2.3% (7,000), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

• In Alaska, 92.2% of children with immigrant parents were U.S. citizens in 2009, according to the Urban Institute.

• In 2009, 94.6% of children in Asian families in Alaska were U.S. citizens, as were 96.2% of children in Latino families.

Latino and Asian entrepreneurs and consumers add billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to Alaska’s economy.

• The 2010 purchasing power of Latinos in Alaska totaled $1.3 billion—an increase of 475.3% since 1990. Asian buying power totaled $1.2 billion—an increase of 311.1% since 1990, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia.

• Alaska’s 2,148 Asian-owned businesses had sales and receipts of $477.4 million and employed 4,219 people in 2007, the last year for which data is available.

Immigrants are integral to Alaska’s economy as workers and taxpayers.

• Immigrants comprised 8.8% of the state’s workforce in 2009 (or 33,511 workers), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

• Unauthorized immigrants comprised less than 1.5% of the state’s workforce (or fewer than 10,000 workers) in 2010, according to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center.

• If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Alaska, the state would lose $484.7 million in economic activity, $215.3 million in gross state product, and approximately 1,980 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time, according to a report by the Perryman Group.

Immigrants contribute to Alaska’s economy as students.

• Alaska’s 515 foreign students contributed $11.7 million to the state’s economy in tuition, fees, and living expenses for the 2009-2010 academic year, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Immigrants excel educationally.

• The number of immigrants in Alaska with a college degree increased by 31.9% between 2000 and 2009, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute.

•  In Alaska, 90.9% of children with immigrant parents were considered “English proficient” as of 2009, according to data from the Urban Institute.

•   The English proficiency rate among Asian children was 85.2%, while for Latino children it was 98.8%, as of 2009.

Published On: Wed, Jan 11, 2012 | Download File