A new study of 2022 census data reveals that immigrants help boost the country’s economy. They make America more successful and create new chances for growth. The numbers show that immigrants continue to play a vital role in making the country more robust and prosperous.
That year, members of immigrant households paid roughly $579.1 billion in taxes, $35.1 billion of which were from undocumented households. For every six dollars the government got in taxes, about one dollar came from immigrant homes.
How are immigrants helping the country?
Government agencies use the taxes they collect to provide a wide range of social services to the public. These initiatives help fund food stamp programs, public schools and healthcare insurance for low-income families in the country.
Immigrants are helping the government maintain Medicaid and Social Security programs. In 2022, immigrant households paid $53.6 billion to Medicare and $194.5 billion to Social Security, helping 109.5 million Americans receive benefits.
They are also filling critical jobs across the country. They are active in different economic sectors, driving innovations, caring for the sick and building crucial infrastructures.
More than a quarter of the workers within the country’s agriculture sector are immigrants. They also make up 23.1% of the workers in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industries.
More importantly, they are helping address the nationwide shortage of health care professionals. In 2022, 15.6% of nurses and 27.7% of health aides were immigrants.
How immigrants contributed to Florida’s economy
In 2022, Florida had over 4.8 million immigrants, about 22% of all immigrants in the country. The analysis shows these families had spent $141.5 billion and paid $42.5 billion in taxes that year.
Immigrants also made a big difference in Daytona Beach alone. In 2022, over 3,600 immigrant business owners helped boost the city’s economy.
These numbers prove that immigrants are essential workers who can help the country prosper. The recent analysis also highlights the need for policies that recognize their contributions and potential.