Presentation at a Boston Foundation convening regarding immigrant integration.

1. Our Shared
Future:
Charting a Path for
Immigrant Advancement in a
New Political Landscape
Wednesday, April 19th, 2017
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
U N D E R S T A N D I N G B O S T O N
#SharedFuture

2. The Importance of
Immigrants to Boston’s
Continued Prosperity
Alvaro Lima
Director of Research – Boston Planning
& Development Agency
April 19, 2017
U N D E R S T A N D I N G B O S T O N

3. during the last
decades Boston’s
population grew

4. 669,469
617,594
589,141
574,823562,994
641,071
697,197
801,444
770,816
781,188
748,060
670,585
560,892
500,000
550,000
600,000
650,000
700,000
750,000
800,000
850,000
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Boston’s Population (1900-2015)
14% growth between
1980 and 2010
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1900-2010 Decennial Census, 2015 1-year American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis
2015

5. it stayed
young

6. 32.6
32.9
28.1
28.9
30.4
31.1
30.8
31.8
32.8
32.1
29.5
31.2
33.4
36.5
39.1
39.4
30.2
29.5
28.1
30.0
32.9
35.3
37.2
37.8
25
27
29
31
33
35
37
39
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Median Age in Boston/MA/US (1950-2015)
Boston Massachusetts U.S.
2015
Boston has maintained a
more youthful population than
the U.S. and Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2015 1-Year American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis

7. became more
educated

8. 8th highest BA+
attainment
among a set of
25 comparable
U.S. cities
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950 – 2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2015 1-Year American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis
6.4% 7.6% 10.5%
20.3%
30.0%
34.9%
42.5% 45.3%
6.6% 7.7%
8.6%
13.1%
19.1%
19.3%
18.2%
18.4%
28.9%
29.3%
35.2%
35.0%
26.6%
24.1%
23.6% 21.6%
53.9%
55.4%
45.7%
31.6%
24.3% 21.7%
15.7% 14.8%
4.2%
6.2% 7.7%
10.8%
16.2%
20.3%
24.4%
27.9% 29.8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2015
%ofPopulation25YearsandOver
Bachelor's degree or higher Some college or Associate's degree High school
Less than high school Not reported U.S. Bachelor's degree or higher
Educational Attainment of Boston vs U.S. (1950-2015)

9. and
became
more diverse

10. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1870-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2015 1-year American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis
98.6% 98.3% 98.1% 97.7% 97.8% 97.7% 97.1% 96.7%
94.7%
90.2%
79.8%
67.9%
59.0%
49.5% 47.0% 45.5%
1.4% 1.7% 1.9% 2.3% 2.2% 2.3% 2.9% 3.3%
5.3%
9.8%
20.2%
32.1%
41.0%
50.5%
53.0% 54.5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
White population Total non-White population
2015
Boston's Minority Population 1870-2015

11. immigrants are a
big part of this
story…

12.  There are 1,095,953 foreign
born in Massachusetts, 16.1%
of the state population
 Boston has 190,123 foreign-
born residents, 28.4% of the
city population
 Boston immigrants come from
all continents and from 130
different countries
 Of foreign born in Boston,
28.6% are Hispanic/Latino and
23.8% are Asian
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 1-year and 2011-2015 5-year American Community Surveys, BPDA Research Division Analysis

13. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 One-Year American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis
0.6% 4.8% 3.3%
9.0% 10.1% 12.4%
25.2%
32.3%
45.1%
49.3% 50.3%
49.3%
8.0%
16.0%
21.0%
24.2%
25.3% 25.6%
63.6%
37.9%
24.2%
17.5% 14.3% 12.7%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2015
Region of Origin of Boston's Immigrants (2015)
Africa Americas Asia Europe

14. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis
19,732
18,566
15,907
9,670 9,537
7,860
6,899
6,108
4,301
3,635 3,478 3,204 3,196 2,921 2,820 2,615 2,521 2,353 2,343 2,108
Top 20 Countries of Origin for Foreign Born (2015)

15. Hispanic and Asian
immigration
contributes heavily to
Boston’s growing
diversity
Source: 1970 -2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2015 1-Year American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis
Note: 2000 was the first year the Census compiled data on individuals who identified themselves as multiracial. Those who indicated “two or more races” are included in “Other” in 2000 and 2010 in this chart.
79.8%
67.9%
59.0%
49.5% 47.0% 45.5%
15.8%
21.7%
23.8%
23.8%
22.4% 22.7%
2.6%
6.4%
10.8%
14.4%
17.5% 18.8%
2.7% 5.2%
7.5% 8.9% 9.3%
4.7% 4.3% 3.7%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2015
Boston's Diverse Population (1970-2015)
White Black / African American Hispanic Asian / Pacific Islander Other

16. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980-2000 Decennial Censuses, 2010 & 2015 1-year American Community Surveys, BPDA Research Division Analysis
Note: Undocumented share of non-citizen foreign born is estimated to be 38% in Massachusetts by Migration Policy Institute, “Profile of the Unauthorized Population: Massachusetts,” http://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/MA
Citizens
Foreign Born
84.6% 80.6%
74.0% 73.4% 71.0%
7.5%
6.8%
9.8%
11.5%
14.5%4.9% 7.8% 10.1%
9.4%
9.0%
3.0% 4.8%
6.2%
5.7%
5.5%
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
1980 1990 2000 2010 2015
Native Born Naturalized Documented Foreign Born Undocumented Foreign Born
Boston Population by Citizenship Status (1980-2015)

17. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census, and 2006-2010 & 2011-2015 American Community Survey, IPUMS, BPDA Research Division Analysis
54.6%
50.4%
51.5%
34.4%
35.8%
35.3%
11.0%
13.9%
13.2%
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
2000 2010 2015
Both spouses native born Both spouses foreign born One native, one foreign-born
Marriages in Boston by Nativity of Spouses (2000-2015)

18. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, BPDA Research Division Analysis

19. and
more
importantly…

20. without
immigration
Boston’s
population would
be barely larger
than it was in 1980
562,994 573,287
590,490
623,134
669,469
475,938 461,798
436,742
457,239
479,346
-
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
1980 1990 2000 2010 2015
Total Native
Boston’s Population without the Foreign Born (1980-2015)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980-2000 Census and 2010 & 2015 1-year American Community Surveys, BPDA Research Division Analysis.

21. Employment in Suffolk County 1980-2015
380,880
427,160 435,573 434,470
499,652
424,720
497,026
544,270
579,139
688,908
-
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
1980 1990 2000 2010 2015
Native Employed Total Employed
Foreign-born workers
hold 27% of jobs located
in Suffolk County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980-2000 Census and 2010 & 2015 1-year American Community Surveys, BPDA Research Division Analysis. Note: Boston data are not available.

22. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980-2000 Decennial Census, 2010 & 2015 American Community Survey, IPUMS, Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI), BPDA Research Division Analysis
$37.8
$56.3
$87.5
$94.5
$108.2
$33.7
$48.8
$73.5 $74.3
$82.4
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
1980 1990 2000 2010 2015
Billionsof2015USDollars
Suffolk County Economic Output, 1980-2015
Total Output of Suffolk County Output of Native-born Workers
Foreign-born workers
generated 24% of Suffolk
County’s economic
activity

23. Local Economic Impacts of Immigrants
 189,256 foreign-born workers hold jobs in Suffolk County
 2,819 foreign-born entrepreneurs own businesses in Suffolk County that
employ approximately 16,357 additional workers
 30,758 indirect and induced jobs are generated by immigrant’s consumption
demand
 In 2015, these direct and indirect impacts accounted for $25.9 billion in Gross
Domestic Product and $1.5 in state and local taxes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 1-year American Community Survey, IPUMS; Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI); BPDA Research Division Analysis

24. National Economic Impacts of Immigrants
 In 2011 the immigrants who had arrived in the U.S. since 2000 represented
$1.5 trillion worth of education – a subsidy of the U.S. workforce by the
sending countries
 In 2014, according to the World Bank, immigrants contribute to their
countries of origin via remittances, which reached $40 billion
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2011, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Digest of Education Statistics.
See Alvaro Lima, Contributions of Immigrant Labor to the American Economy: A Different Take, 2014.
World Bank, Migration and Remittances Factbook 2016

25. progress has been
made but there are
still barriers
to integration

26. Foreign-Born English Proficiency (2015)
30.1%
29.7%
26.0%
69.9%
70.3%
74.0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
2015
2010
2000
Proficient Limited Proficiency
70% of foreign born in
Boston are proficient
in English, down from
74% in 2000.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys, BPDA Research Division Analysis

27. Educational Attainment by Nativity (2015)
8.8%
19.2%
14.6%
4.6%
29.7%
23.0%
27.4%
25.5%
12.7%
4.7%
15.1% 14.6%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Less than Highschool High School Some College Associates Degree Bachelors Degree Graduate Degree
Native Foreign-Born
Source: 2011-2015 American Community Survey, Public Use Micro-data Sample (PUMS), BPDA Research Division Analysis
27% of foreign-born
adults age 25+ lack a
high school diploma

28. Foreign-born Percentage of Resident Employment by Industry (2015)
Red line represents % of employed Boston
residents who are foreign-born (29.5%)Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2015 American Community Survey, PUMS, BPDA Research Division Analysis
15.0%
15.9%
21.0%
22.5%
25.0%
25.2%
27.1%
35.7%
37.4%
38.7%
38.9%
41.7%
42.0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Information
Public Administration
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
Educational Services
Retail Trade
Professional, Scientific & Management, Administrative & Waste Management
Wholesale Trade
Health Care and Social Assistance
Other Services, Except Public Administration
Construction
Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities
Manufacturing
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation & Food Services
Industries in which
foreign born are
over-represented
Industries in which
foreign born are
under-represented

29. Foreign-born Percentage of Resident Employment by Occupation (2015)
Red line represents % of employed Boston residents who are foreign born (29.5%)
15.3%
18.5%
18.8%
20.3%
21.5%
22.2%
35.0%
44.5%
49.3%
50.9%
51.9%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media
Sales & Related
Community & Social Service
Managerial & Professional
Education, Training, & Library
Office & Administrative Support
Healthcare Practitioners & Support
Construction, Extraction, Maintenance & Transportation
Service
Other
Production
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2015 American Community Survey, PUMS, BPDA Research Division Analysis
Occupations in which
foreign born are over-
represented
Occupations in which
foreign born are under-
represented

30. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis
Universe: Foreign-born employed Boston residents
8.0%
8.6%
13.1%
18.1%
22.5%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Construction
Manufacturing
Administrative Support
Health Care and Social Assistance
Accommodation and Food Services
Less than High School
5.8%
8.5%
19.7%
21.9%
26.4%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Manufacturing
Finance & Insurance
Professional, Scientific, and Technical
Education
Health Care and Social Assistance
Graduate Degree
Top Five Industries of Employment of Foreign Born by Educational Attainment (2015)
The 15% of Boston immigrants with graduate degrees are
concentrated in high-paying jobs.
The 27% of Boston immigrants with less than a high
school diploma are concentrated in low-paying jobs

31. Median Income by Educational Attainment (population aged 25+) – 2015
$20,800
$26,100
$30,000
$35,500
$45,000
$60,000
$24,000
$32,200
$38,000
$40,200
$60,000
$70,000
$- $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000
Less than Highschool
High School
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
Native Foreign-Born
Among full-time workers, the
foreign born average $41,000
while the native born average
$57,000. Even within the same
levels of education, the foreign
born make less on average than
the native born.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis
Universe: Boston residents who work full-time

32. Takeaways:
 The foreign born contribute to Boston’s population growth
 The foreign born accounted for all population growth in Boston 1980 to 2000
 In 2015, 28% of Boston’s population is foreign born – 190,123 residents
 40% of births in Boston are to foreign-born mothers
 The foreign born contribute to Boston’s diversity
 The foreign born have substantial Hispanic, Asian, Black, and White shares
 Top countries of origin are China, Dominican Republic, and Haiti

33. Takeaways:
 The foreign born contribute to Boston’s economic growth
 The foreign born hold 27% of jobs in Suffolk County
 Foreign-born workers generated 24% of Suffolk County’s economic output in 2015
 Successful integration is crucial to fully realizing contributions of foreign born to Boston
 30% are not proficient in English and 27% of adults lack a high school diploma
 Half of foreign born are not U.S. citizens, and 19% are estimated to be
undocumented
 Foreign born are concentrated in low-paying jobs and earn less than native born
even within the same educational level

34. … a final
thought about
integration

35. Traditional Frame
Who? How
many? What
kind?
Source: Transnationalism, Alvaro Lima 2010.

36. Transnational Frame
Source: Transnationalism, Alvaro Lima 2010.

37. thank you