Read our previous Entrepreneurship and Innovation Newsletters here. [1]
Latest Research
Welcoming Economies (WE) Global Network releases toolkit for immigrant economic development strategies. On April 22, WE Global Network released “Ideas that Innovate [2],” a collection [3] of state and local public policy ideas intended to encourage immigrant economic development strategies. The report, which comes after [4] the official April 14 launch [5] of the WE Global Network (formerly Global Great Lakes Network), highlights new and innovative economic development initiatives across the Midwest to build more inclusive, welcoming economies.
The H-1B visa program’s impact on jobs, wages, and the economy. As it happens every year, on April 1 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) started accepting H-1B visa petitions for fiscal year 2016. Coinciding with that event, the American Immigration Council released a fact sheet [6] that provides an overview [7] of the H-1B visa program and its impact on wages, jobs, and the economy. Once again, the H-1B cap for fiscal year 2016 was reached [8] within the first few days [9] of the filing period.
Which regions have received the most H-1B visas? An April 2 piece [10] from Neil Ruiz and Jill Wilson of the Brookings Institution analyzes the geographical distribution of H-1B visa approvals in 2013. The analysis concludes that half of all approved H-1B petitions nationwide went to nine metro areas. When looking at H-1B approval intensity—the number of H-1B approvals per 1,000 workers—the top ten metro areas include large finance and technology hubs and smaller metro areas home to large research-intensive universities.
The economic integration of immigrants and regional resilience. A recent study published in the Journal of Urban Affairs [11], by William Lester and Mai Thi Nguyen of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, explores the economic integration of immigrants across metropolitan areas in the U.S. and whether greater economic integration promotes regional resilience. The study finds that “immigrants in regions that have more broadly integrated immigrants (across occupations) were relatively more resilient in the face of the economic shocks of the Great Recession.”
Immigration brings economic benefits to rural America. A recent study [12] by Roberto Gallardo of Mississippi State University concludes that rural counties with more immigrants tend to be better off economically. According to the study [12], in general, “as the proportion of the immigrant population grows in rural areas, positive economic indicators like per capita market income rise…And negative economic indicators like the rate of poverty and unemployment go down.”
News Updates
White House Task Force on New Americans unveils federal immigrant integration recommendations. As an April 20 article for Immigration Impact [13] describes, the White House Task Force on New Americans—an interagency effort to develop a coordinated federal strategy to better integrate newcomers and build welcoming communities—recently announced [14] a strategic plan [15] for the federal government’s role in immigrant integration. Their recommendations include: (1) supporting welcoming communities; (2) strengthening existing pathways to naturalization and promoting civic engagement; (3) supporting skill development, fostering entrepreneurship, and protecting new American workers; and (4) expanding opportunities for linguistic integration and education. Many of the recommendations reflect innovative [16] ideas on a range of integration issues and actions individuals and organizations submitted [17] from around [18] the country in February.
Immigrant innovators visit Capitol Hill to discuss immigration issues for entrepreneurs. In April, immigrant tech entrepreneurs from across the U.S. visited Washington, D.C., to speak to officials, members of Congress and their staff. They emphasized the need for immigration reform to ensure the U.S. can continue to attract and retain talent to build businesses, create jobs, and grow the economy here in the U.S. As Thomas Ketchell, founder of HSTRY, explains [19], “US immigration policies are forcing foreign-born startup founders with capital and employees out of the country, effectively sending thousands of well-paid, high-skilled jobs overseas.” HSTRY offers an interactive timeline [20] and accompanying lesson plans for teachers wishing to discuss these issues in their classrooms.
Start-up to energize immigrant entrepreneurs. An April 7 article [21] describes the new Philadelphia Immigrant Innovation Hub, which recently received funding from the Knight Foundation. The Hub is a joint venture of the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, Mt. Airy USA, and Finanta. Their grant-winning proposal seeks to “harness the energy of immigrant entrepreneurs” and revitalize parts of Philadelphia’s Mount Airy neighborhood.
In Idaho, refugees resume their professional lives. An April 26 article in the Idaho Statesman [22] describes the experiences of skilled refugees—including professors, doctors, computer specialists, and mechanics—who come to Idaho each year. Often, such individuals face barriers re-entering their careers after resettling in the U.S., including linguistic and cultural barriers, as well as licensing and credentialing barriers. Global Talent Idaho is working with refugees to help them find career pathways related to their expertise.
How inaction on immigration impacts the agricultural sector. An April 1 piece [23] describes a recent event [24] at the American Immigration Council highlighting a report [25] from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Panelists discussed how the immigration system’s status quo is harmful to employers, workers, the broader economy, and food security. They agreed that the future of agriculture in the U.S. and the ability to feed ourselves is very much connected to creating a functioning immigration system.