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Published on Nov 26, 2024 in Economic Justice, Immigrants' Rights
29% of New Jersey’s workers are immigrants, including:
22% of retail salespeople
30% of registered nurses
64% of software developers
45% of Main Street business owners in New Jersey are immigrants, operating storefront shops that help keep downtown areas vibrant.
Immigrant workers and business owners generate $194 billion of economic output in New Jersey. Immigrant contribution to GDP is about the same as immigrant share of the labor force.
Immigration increases opportunity for people in New Jersey
When immigrants move to New Jersey, the economy grows. That doesn’t mean fewer jobs, it means more jobs: there are more consumers, more workers, and more business owners. Study after study shows there is no fixed number of jobs in a state. Immigration creates opportunities that benefit U.S.-born workers too.
As New Jerseyans age, we’ll need more workers
As our population ages, new immigrants help keep our economy growing at a sustainable rate. Immigrants help meet growing needs for health care, home care, and supportive services that are key for older New Jerseyans to have a dignified retirement.
Some people try to scapegoat immigrants to keep us divided. We don’t have to fall for it.
After decades of stagnating wages, today wage growth is starting to move in the right direction. We know how to create a good economy for workers. It requires uniting around policy choices like investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and our care economy with strong labor standards. Regardless of race or country of birth, we all do better when we unite for policies that grow jobs and wages.
