The Contributions of New Americans in Michigan

Over the last several decades, Michigan has become increasingly attractive to immigrants—a development that has had a positive impact on the economy of this Midwestern state. Rust Belt cities like Detroit were particularly hard-hit during the Great Recession, suffering both economic downturns and population loss, but recent influxes of immigrants have helped to mitigate some of these negative effects, providing businesses with the customers they need and governments with a healthy tax base. In 1990, Michigan’s immigrant community represented only 3.8 percent of the state’s total population. By 2010, that share had risen to 5.8 percent. And between 2010 and 2014, Michigan’s foreign-born population grew by an additional 60,000 people.

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