The Immigration Policy Center recently came out with state fact sheets and infographics about the political and economic power of Latino and Asian immigrant populations throughout the country. Click here to take a look at the full fact sheet for Washington.
Below are some of the facts we found most interesting and informative:
- The foreign-born share of Washington’s population rose from 6.6% in 1990, to 10.4% in 2000, to 13.1% in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Washington was home to 886,262 immigrants in 2010, which is more than the total population of San Francisco, California.
- Nearly 1 in 5 Washingtonians are Latino or Asian—and they vote.
- The 2010 purchasing power of Asians in Washington totaled $18 billion—an increase of 506.8% since 1990. Latino buying power totaled $14.6 billion—an increase of 621.3% since 1990
- Immigrants comprised 15.9% of the state’s workforce in 2010 (or 556,133 workers)
- Immigrants contributed $1.5 billion in tax revenue to the Washington state economy in 2007, accounting for 13.2% of all taxes paid in the state, according to a 2009 study by OneAmerica.
- If all undocumented immigrants were removed from Washington, the state would lose $14.5 billion in economic activity, $6.4 billion in gross state product, and approximately 71,197 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time.
- Undocumented immigrants in Washington paid $327.7 million in state and local taxes in 2010.
- Washington’s 16,449 foreign students contributed $412.1 million to the state’s economy in tuition, fees, and living expenses for the 2009-2010 academic year.
