Student Guest Post
Kiese is a Philadelphia Public School student, a 10th grader at Masterman. Just a generation ago, his father was a refugee - and an NSC client - trying to find his way in a new country. So, during this time when immigration is again in the news, Kiese was interested in learning more - and helping others learn more, too. Through a series of blog posts, Kiese hopes to speak directly to the city's teens about the truths that emerge about immigration when we go beyond the headlines.
In his first post, Kiese outlines five key learnings he uncovered when digging into research from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
When I first decided to learn more about immigration, I wanted to start with the economy. I’ve heard people say that immigrants both help and hurt our economy, and I wanted to learn the truth. Here are five things I learned in my initial research about immigrants and the economy.
Immigrants in the Workforce: Immigrants have a notable role in Philadelphia’s economy, as they make up around 20% of the city’s workforce. They are represented strongly in key industries such as healthcare, construction, food service, and manufacturing. Since 2010, the number of immigrants in the workforce has increased by about 50%. This increase has been especially noticeable in healthcare and service-related jobs.
Driving Population Growth: Philadelphia’s growing population has been influenced largely by immigration. Since 1950, the number of U.S.-born residents has been declining, but the increase of immigrants in the city has helped balance out the trend. Currently, immigrants make up just over 14% of Philadelphia’s population. Studies prior to this administration predicted that immigration would continue to help the population grow.
Global Representation: Philadelphia’s immigrant community is very diverse, with people arriving from all over the world. While many immigrants come from Asia, Africa, and Europe, a significant portion of the city’s population also has roots in Latin America and the Caribbean. All of these groups contribute to the city’s cultural and economic landscape.
Community & Culture: Immigrants have played a crucial role in revitalizing neighborhoods and boosting the local economy. Neighborhoods such as South Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, and sections of West Philadelphia have seen a boost in business development and population thanks to immigrant entrepreneurship. Immigrants have opened restaurants across Philadelphia, bringing cuisines from Vietnam, Ethiopia, Mexico, and more to the city. Local businesses owned by immigrants also generate millions of dollars in revenue annually, supporting jobs and city tax revenue.
- Heavy in Healthcare: Philadelphia’s healthcare sector relies heavily on immigrant workers. A significant percentage of the city’s nurses were born outside of the U.S., highlighting how essential immigrants are in maintaining healthcare services. Beyond nursing, immigrants also make up a significant portion of the workforce in home health care, elder care, and hospital support roles.
During my exploration, I learned that, even though immigrants may create short-term costs, the long-term benefit is bigger, if they get opportunities and support. That’s why organizations like NSC are so important. They provide support so immigrants can thrive. I don’t need to do research to know that’s true. I can just look at my dad.