New research from the American Immigration Council highlights the key role that immigrants are playing in southern Utah’s workforce and as taxpayers, consumers, entrepreneurs, international students, and more. This research brief, prepared in partnership with the Utah Center for Immigration & Integration housed in the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging, uses American Community Survey data to show the demographic and economic contributions that immigrants are making across the region. The report focuses on seven southern Utah communities, including Beaver, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, San Juan, and Washington counties.
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Immigrants in Southern Utah worked in fast-growing industries. While immigrants represented 4.7 percent of southern Utah’s population in 2019, they made up 11.8 percent of construction workers, 9.9 percent of hospitality workers, 9.5 percent of manufacturing workers, and 4.1 percent of retail workers, contributing a wide array of skills to key industries.
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Immigrants started businesses at higher rates than their U.S.-born counterparts. In 2019, 14.2 percent of immigrants owned their own businesses compared to 13.3 percent of U.S.-born residents in southern Utah.
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Immigrants contributed to Southern Utah’s economy as taxpayers and consumers. In 2019, immigrants contributed $47.3 million in federal taxes and $25.6 million in state & local taxes and held $251.6 million in spending power, helping to fuel the regional economy.
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International students supported jobs in Southern Utah. 800 international students enrolled in southern Utah’s colleges and universities during the 2022-23 school year, contributing $27.1 million to the U.S. economy and supporting 129 jobs.
