Washington D.C. (February 16, 2010) – The Immigration Policy Center has compiled research which shows that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are an important part of Alaska’s economy, labor force, and tax base.
Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers, and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of states like the Last Frontier.
Highlights from Alaska include:
• Immigrants made up 7.2 percent (or 48,928 people) of Alaska’s population in 2007.
• 51.2 percent of immigrants in 2007 (or 25,046 people) in Alaska were naturalized U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote.
• Latinos accounted for 5.6 percent (or 38,275) and Asians 4.8 percent (or 32,807) of Alaskans in 2007.
• The purchasing power of Latinos totaled $1.2 billion and Asian buying power totaled $1.1 billion in Alaska in 2009.
• If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Alaska, the state could lose $484.7 million in expenditures, $215.3 million in economic output, and approximately 1,980 jobs.
There is no denying the contributions immigrants, Latinos, and Asians make in Alaska and the important role they will play in the state’s political and economic future.
