New Data Shows Toledo and Lucas County Immigrants are Offsetting Local Population Loss

Toledo, OH – Immigrant community members who live in the City of Toledo and Lucas County have partially offset local population loss, according to new research by New American Economy (NAE).  

The report, which was published in partnership with Welcome Toledo-Lucas County (TLC), a local cross-sector initiative housed in Lucas County, and the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, highlights the more than $200 million impact that Toledo immigrants make in the community and their contributions in 2017 of more $30 million in federal taxes and more than $19 million in state and local taxes.  

The report also illustrates the contributions that immigrants make to Toledo’s economy and its workforce. Immigrants play a major role in key industries that are vital to Toledo’s economic stability. In 2017, they made up 3.7 percent of the area’s population and had an outsize impact on many industries, representing more than 9 percent of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workers, 9 percent of education workers, and nearly 8 percent of workers in construction careers. 

The full report will be released at a Focus on Business luncheon hosted by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Wednesday, August 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion (2445 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio 43620). The luncheon will feature a presentation by New American Economy’s Director of Quantitative Research Andrew Lim. In addition, Welcome TLC staff will present the newly released Welcome TLC Hiring Guide for Immigrants. 

The report was the result of Welcome TLC receiving the 2019 Gateways for Growth national challenge award to receive tailored research. In January, Welcome TLC was one of 14 communities nationally selected by NAE for the 2019 Gateways for Growth cohort. 

“We launched the Welcome TLC initiative five years ago because we realized the value of immigrants and refugees and the potential they bring to Toledo and Lucas County. Toledo-Lucas County has a unique immigrant population and history that has served us well in the past and will continue to serve us well in the future,” the Lucas County Commissioners said.

“This is another step in Welcome TLC’s leadership in including Toledo-Lucas County’s small but growing and diverse immigrant population in our regional talent and economic development strategies,” said Mechelle Zarou and Reem Subei, Welcome TLC’s Co-Chairs. “Especially in this era of misinformation on immigration, Toledo’s immigrant community is to be celebrated and welcomed and we continue to work to put our region on the map nationally.”

“The Toledo Region is competing not just locally, but nationally and internationally to attract and retain the necessary workforce to keep our region moving forward. Finding qualified employees is the number one challenge we hear from our members, and one of the top initiatives the Chamber is focused on.” said Wendy Gramza, President and CEO of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. “This report shows the important role that immigration has in ensuring our region’s workforce needs are being met, both today and in the future.”

“Toledo is taking critical steps to ensure that its immigrant population can continue to grow and succeed,” said Mo Kantner, Associate Director of State and Local Initiatives at New American Economy. “As this new data clearly shows, immigrant success provides tangible benefits to the Toledo workforce, housing market, and overall economy.”

Read the full research brief here.