Research Confirms Immigration Grows Economy, Helps Workers

When economists looked at decades of data on immigration and jobs, they found something surprising. Immigrants don't take opportunities away from American workers. Instead, they create them.

A comprehensive review by Washington College and the University of New Hampshire examined years of economic research on immigration's real impact. The findings tell a story of growth, not competition.

The Congressional Budget Office recently raised its GDP growth projections by $7 trillion to account for increased immigration. That's not a small adjustment. It reflects how deeply immigrants contribute as workers, consumers, taxpayers, inventors, and entrepreneurs.

Here's where it gets interesting. Immigrants and native-born workers typically aren't competing for the same jobs. They're complementing each other. When immigrant construction workers build homes, they create demand for native-born engineers, architects, plumbers, and electricians.

The research shows immigrants fill crucial gaps at both ends of the job market. They take positions in industries where American workers are in short supply, from agriculture to tech. This actually boosts employment and productivity for native-born workers in related fields.

The numbers on public finances might surprise people too. Immigrant workers, including undocumented immigrants, pay more in taxes on average than they receive in benefits. They contribute a net positive to federal finances while helping fund services for everyone.

Recent evidence shows what happens when immigration drops sharply. Net migration fell from 2.7 million in 2024 to just 321,000 in 2026. Labor shortages followed, driving up inflation in industries that depend on immigrant workers. Meanwhile, the promised wage gains for native-born workers haven't materialized.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches every community. Reduced immigration means fewer homes built, higher food prices, and struggling small businesses. When immigration enforcement expands, taxpayers pay twice: first for deportation operations, then through lost tax revenue and economic activity.

The National Academies found that immigration policies can't be decided on economics alone, but the economic case is clear. Immigrants bring "high aspirations, strong families, and a strong work ethic" that strengthen communities nationwide.

Mass deportations could permanently shrink the U.S. economy by up to 6 percent by contracting labor markets and reducing the supply of goods and services. That hurts everyone, regardless of where they were born.

The research points to a simple truth: when immigration thrives, the economy grows stronger, creating more opportunity for all workers.