Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Foreign Intervention
Commission report finds immigrants have significant impact on state industries
Posted by Michael Nakan on Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 4:00 AM
Maryland must remain welcoming to immigrants and strengthen its efforts to integrate them into the economy and community, according to a commission coordinated by the University of Maryland.
The Commission to Study the Impact of Immigrants in Maryland found that immigrants “contribute substantially” to the economy and have made considerable contributions to technically skilled industries including the science, information, and medical fields. Its final report, The Impact of Immigrants in Maryland, also found that “relatively unskilled” immigrants play important roles in agriculture, seafood, construction, personal services, and tourism: “Without the influx of foreign-born workers, expansion in these labor-intensive industries would have been choked off, increasing prices and discouraging growth across the economy,” the report reads.
The report also showed that 57 percent of workforce expansion in Maryland between 2000 and 2010 was due to foreign-born workers—far above the national average of 45 percent.
The report evaluated education of the children of immigrants, immigration law enforcement issues, and the federal E-Verify system used to verify workers’ immigration statuses.
The report urged legislators to consider the future benefits of immigration when deciding short-term policies. It describes withholding education and state services from the children of immigrants as “foolhardy,” given that this demographic will one day be a significant part of the labor force in Maryland.
"The panel has adopted a common sense approach that we believe reflects the will of the state," says Commission Chair Larry Shinagawa, a University of Maryland professor and demographer. "We've based our findings on the demographic and economic facts and the legal responsibilities of Maryland's jurisdictions, and we believe our recommendations can help the state leverage global energy and talent to continue as a diverse, prosperous, and dynamic community."
The report also notes that immigration may reduce job opportunities and wages for workers during a cyclical downtown, although research shows that these effects are most concentrated on the opportunities of low-wage-earning immigrants already residing in the United States. There is no specific study that demonstrates the extent of such effects in Maryland.
Follow Urbanite on Facebook and Twitter for the latest stories, updates, and events.
Readers also liked…
-
Taking a Stand
John Carlos still has the big picture in mind.
- Jan 31, 2012
-
Climate Ride: New York to D.C.
Nonprofit organizes bike rides to raise money for sustainability efforts
- Mar 21, 2012
Readers' Favorites
-
Blue Hill Tavern
- 938 S Conkling St, Baltimore Brewer's Hill MD 21224
-
443-388-9363
- www.bluehilltavern.com/
- (based on 1 user review)
-
Hilton Baltimore Hotel
- 401 W Pratt St, Baltimore Inner Harbor MD 21201
-
443-573-8700
- www.hilton.com
- (based on 1 user review)
-
Chef Mac's Louisiana Cuisine
- 4311 Harford Rd, Baltimore Arcadia MD 21214
-
410-319-6227
- www.chefmacs.com
- (based on 2 user reviews)
Comments (0)