Immigrants are vital to Iowa's future

Immigrants are essential to Iowa's future, as new research shows. Immigrants make up 1 in 4 Iowa physicians, 1 in 5 maids and housekeepers, and over half of butchers and meat processors.

There are 200,000 immigrants living in the state, as the Immigration Research Institute (IRI) and Economic Policy Institute (EPI) show in a new one-page fact sheet released through Common Good Iowa.

The new research raises questions for all Iowans and their elected officials. Are we providing the welcoming environment not only for those 200,000 immigrants already here, but for those who may come and help move our state toward greater prosperity?

Immigration enhances job opportunities, because it brings more consumers who patronize local businesses who need employees, who become consumers, and new customers, and so on.

For cheap political advantage, some scapegoat immigrants, when thoughtful Iowans will recognize the value of their new neighbors -- just as most Iowans' ancestors needed that recognition many years ago.

Of course, Iowa is not an island. These themes hold true across the country. IRI and EPI's national analysis shows there are 48 million immigrants in the nation, with immigrant workers and businesses generating $4.6 trillion in economic output in the U.S. in 2022.

"The contribution of immigrants to GDP is about the same as the immigrant share of the population," the researchers note.

As IRI and EPI note, we can unite "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."

Mike Owen is deputy director of Common Good Iowa. Contact: mowen@commongoodiowa.org.