Immigrants in
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a sizable immigrant community. About 5.4 percent of the state's residents are foreign-born, and 3.0 percent of its U.S.-born residents live with at least one immigrant parent. Immigrants make up 6.9 percent of Wisconsin's labor force and support the state's economy in many ways. They account for 7.6 percent of entrepreneurs, 10.3 percent of STEM workers, and 11.5 percent of the agricultural workforce in the state. As neighbors, business owners, taxpayers, and workers, immigrants are an integral part of Wisconsin's diverse and thriving communities and make extensive contributions that benefit all.
Overview
320,000
Immigrant residents$10.1B
Immigrants spending power$3.5B
Immigrants taxes paid2023
Data yearDemographics
In the United States, immigrants are more likely to be working-age than their U.S.-born counterparts. This means they are more likely to be active in the labor force, allowing them to contribute to the economy not only as consumers but also as taxpayers, helping fund social services and programs like Medicare and Social Security.
| Age Group | Foreign-Born Population | U.S.-Born Population |
|---|---|---|
| 0-15 | 6.0% | 19.1% |
| 16-64 | 81.6% | 61.4% |
| 65+ | 12.5% | 19.5% |
49.4%
Share of immigrants who are women50.6%
Share of immigrants who are men24,100
Number of immigrant children166,100
Number of U.S.-born residents living with at least one immigrant parent79.2%
Share of Foreign-Born that are proficient in EnglishTop countries of origin for immigrants
Entrepreneurship
It is hard to overstate the importance of entrepreneurship since new businesses are the main driver of job growth in the United States. Immigrants play a particularly important role in this—founding businesses at far higher rates than the U.S. population overall. Today, millions of American workers are employed at immigrant-founded and immigrant-owned companies.
18,200
Immigrant entrepreneurs$527.3M
Total business income of immigrant entrepreneurs4
Number of Fortune 500 companies founded by immigrants or children of immigrantsTAXES & SPENDING POWER
Immigrant households contribute hundreds of billions of dollars in federal, state, and local taxes and hold a tremendous amount of spending power. This gives them significant economic clout, helping support local communities as consumers and taxpayers. Like all residents of the United States, regardless of where they were born, immigrants make use of public services like education, healthcare, and public safety. Even with these costs, however, immigrants’ economic contributions far outweigh the cost of additional public services they incur.
$13.5B
Immigrant household income$10.1B
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $1.2B |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $2.2B |
| Total Taxes Paid | $3.5B |
$1.4B
Immigrants’ contributions to Social Security$380.7M
Immigrants’ contributions to MedicareWorkforce
The growth in the immigrant population has helped to strengthen America’s labor force. As baby boomers retire, younger immigrants are filling crucial gaps in the labor market. Nationally, immigrants are more likely to hold an advanced degree than the U.S.-born. They are also more likely to have less than a high school education. As such, they are able to fill critical shortages at both ends of the skill spectrum, from high-tech positions to agriculture, hospitality, and service jobs.
218,700
Number of immigrant workers in the labor forceEducational Attainment by Nativity, Age 25+
| Education Level | Foreign-Born Population | U.S.-Born Population |
|---|---|---|
| Less Than High School | 22.6% | 5.2% |
| High School & Some College | 40.3% | 60.9% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 18.0% | 22.6% |
| Graduate Degree | 19.2% | 11.3% |
Share of College-Educated Workers Employed in Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree
| Foreign-Born Population | U.S.-Born Population |
|---|---|
| 29.6% | 28.4% |
TOP INDUSTRIES WITH HIGHEST SHARE OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS
Immigrant share of population: 5.4%
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields are some of the most in-demand jobs in the U.S. economy. These jobs are also expected to experience some of the highest growth rates in the next decade, second only to healthcare jobs. While immigrants already play a huge part in maintaining the United States’ role as a leading innovator, immigrants will also be instrumental in helping high-tech industries meet their full potential as their needs for high-skilled STEM workers rapidly increases in the future.
Housing
Immigrant families have long played an important role in helping to build housing wealth in the United States. In recent decades, the more than 40 million immigrants in the U.S. collectively increased U.S. housing wealth by trillions of dollars. Much of this was possible because immigrants moved into neighborhoods once in decline, thus helping to revitalize communities and make neighborhoods more attractive to U.S.-born residents.
79,700
Immigrant homeowners7.6%
Share of recent homebuyers who were foreign-born$27.2B
Housing wealth held by immigrant households$772.1M
Amount paid by immigrant-led households in rentInternational Students
International students in the United States contribute tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy every year and support a significant number of U.S. jobs through their tuition payments and day-to-day spending. Research has also found that increases in the number of international students at American universities boost innovation and patent creation.
15,587
Students at Wisconsin colleges and universities who are international students$541.3M
Economic contribution of international students4,857
Jobs supported by international studentsNaturalization & Voting Power
As more immigrants naturalize and become eligible to vote, they continue to gain political power. The number of immigrant voters is only projected to rise in the next decade, and in some states foreign-born voters are already capable of deciding elections.
123,700
Number of immigrants who are eligible to vote131,700
Number of immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens59,800
Number of immigrants who are eligible for naturalizationUndocumented Immigrants
The presence of a significant number of undocumented immigrants in the United States poses many legal and political challenges. But these millions of undocumented immigrants, most of whom have lived in the country for more than five years, are working across the country, contributing billions of dollars to the U.S. economy.
93,000
Number of undocumented immigrants$3.1B
Undocumented household income$2.4B
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $251.7M |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $433.7M |
| Total Taxes Paid | $685.4M |
Top Industries with Highest Share of Undocumented Workers
Immigrant share of population: 5.4%
70,000
Number of U.S. citizens living with at least one undocumented family member45,800
Number of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented family member42,500
Number of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented parentTHE DACA-ELIGIBLE POPULATION
DACA-eligible people contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. Removing the protections afforded to DACA recipients would likely upset local economies, communities, and schools, hurting employers and businesses that depend on these young immigrants as workers and customers.
10,500
Number of DACA-eligible residents$531.1M
DACA-eligible household income$401.9M
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $52.7M |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $76.4M |
| Total Taxes Paid | $129.2M |
5,440
Number of active DACA recipients8,274
Number of people with DACA grantedRefugees
Refugees living in the United States make tremendous contributions to our economy as earners, taxpayers, and consumers. Rather than a drain on communities, refugees, with their high employment rate and entrepreneurial spirit, actually sustain and strengthen their new hometowns.
31,700
Number of likely refugees1,825
Number of refugees resettled in the last fiscal year76.1%
Share of refugees who are naturalized U.S. citizens99.4%
Employment rate of likely refugees$1.1B
Refugee household income$874.9M
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $105.4M |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $167.1M |
| Total Taxes Paid | $272.5M |
Top Countries of Origin for Refugees Resettled in the last Fiscal Year
Temporary Protected Status Holders
Recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have made enormous contributions to various industries and paid a significant amount in federal, state, and local taxes in the United States. Forcing them to leave the country not only risks putting these individuals in danger, but also threatens to significantly disrupt local economies.
1,525
Number of TPS holders