Texas depends on immigrants to grow its economy… Immigrants in Texas' workforce contribute $119 billion to the Texas economy annually in personal income, making up nearly 1 in 5 of all wage dollars in the state.
Further, immigrants make up significant shares of workers in industries like construction (37%), business services (23%), and manufacturing (26%). Immigrants make up even larger shares of more specific essential industries, like 53% of landscaping services, 47% of building services, 42% of meat processing, 22% of restaurant and food services, and a third or more of several manufacturing industries, including those that produce plastic products and electrical products.
I’m not sure what you had in mind when you said the average Texan doesn’t benefit. It seems like they do, since the average Texan lives in a home, comes in contact with landscapes, and uses … products.
I’m thinking like someone who lives in Texas and comes in contact with immigrants. Guest workers, first and second generation Americans. It’s impossible to live in any sizable city in Texas and not see that immigrants are essential to Texas’ economic success.
Further, immigrants make up significant shares of workers in industries like construction (37%), business services (23%), and manufacturing (26%). Immigrants make up even larger shares of more specific essential industries, like 53% of landscaping services, 47% of building services, 42% of meat processing, 22% of restaurant and food services, and a third or more of several manufacturing industries, including those that produce plastic products and electrical products.
I’m not sure what you had in mind when you said the average Texan doesn’t benefit. It seems like they do, since the average Texan lives in a home, comes in contact with landscapes, and uses … products.
I’m thinking like someone who lives in Texas and comes in contact with immigrants. Guest workers, first and second generation Americans. It’s impossible to live in any sizable city in Texas and not see that immigrants are essential to Texas’ economic success.
https://www.dallasfed.org/research/economists/~/media/docume...