Illinois has a large population of immigrants, half of whom are naturalized citizens. About 14.3 percent of the state’s residents are foreign-born, and 8.7 percent of its U.S.-born residents live with at least one immigrant parent. Immigrants make up 17.6 percent of Illinois's labor force and support the state’s economy in many ways. They account for 25.3 percent of entrepreneurs, 24.6 percent of STEM workers, and 18.7 percent of nurses in the state. As neighbors, business owners, taxpayers, and workers, immigrants are an integral part of Illinois’s diverse and thriving communities and make extensive contributions that benefit all.

14.3% Immigrant share of population
Immigrant residents

$60.7B

Immigrant spending power

$24.3B

Immigrant taxes paid

2022

Data year

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 3.4% 21.5%
16-64 77.5% 61.6%
65+ 19.0% 16.9%
8.7% Share of total population who are U.S.-born residents living with at least one immigrant parent

50.0%

Share of immigrant women

50.0%

Share of immigrant men

77,600

Number of immigrant children

940,400

Number of U.S.-born residents living with at least one immigrant parent

77.8%

Share of Foreign-Born that are proficient in English

Top countries of origin for immigrants

33.8% Mexico
9.7% India
6.7% Poland
5.4% Philippines
4.1% China

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.

25.3% Share of entrepreneurs who are immigrants

141,600

Immigrant entrepreneurs

$3.2B

Total business income of immigrant entrepreneurs

TAXES & 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.

Immigrant household income
Total spending power
State & Local Taxes Paid $9.5B
Federal Taxes Paid $14.8B
Total Taxes Paid $24.3B
Immigrants’ contributions to Social Security
Immigrants’ contributions to Medicare

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.

17.6% Share of workers in the labor force who are immigrants

1,168,300

Number of immigrant workers in the labor force

Educational Attainment by Nativity, Age 25+

Education Level Foreign-Born Population U.S.-Born Population
Less Than High School 23.7% 6.3%
High School & Some College 39.5% 55.8%
Bachelor’s Degree 19.9% 23.0%
Graduate Degree 16.9% 15.0%

Share of College-Educated Workers Employed in Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree

Foreign-Born Population U.S.-Born Population
31.7% 27.9%

TOP INDUSTRIES WITH HIGHEST SHARE OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS

26.0% Manufacturing
23.8% Transportation and Warehousing
23.3% Construction
21.4% General Services
18.9% Professional Services

IMMIGRANT SHARE OF POPULATION: 14.3%

TOP OCCUPATIONS WITH HIGHEST SHARE OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS

#1 Taxi drivers62.5% #2 Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders53.3% #3 Other metal workers and plastic workers48.4% #4 Physical scientists, all other44.5% #5 Maids and housekeeping cleaners43.4%

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.

24.6% Share of STEM workers who are immigrants

As millions of baby boomers become elderly, the U.S. healthcare system is facing unprecedented demand, adding jobs faster than any other segment of the economy. Many healthcare businesses and providers are struggling to find enough workers, and in some rural areas shortages are particularly acute. Immigrants have already been filling some of our most glaring healthcare needs. They are twice as likely as the U.S.-born to work as home health aides, and twice as likely to work as physicians and surgeons.

Nurses who are foreign-born18.7% Health aides who are foreign-born19.1%

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.

531,400

Immigrant homeowners

17.1%

Share of recent homebuyers who were foreign-born

$178.0B

Housing wealth held by immigrant households

$4.2B

Amount paid by immigrant-led households in rent

International 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.

55,337

Students at Illinois colleges and universities who are international students

$2.1B

Economic contribution of international students

21,158

Jobs supported by international students

Naturalization & 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.

52.7% Share of immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens

919,000

Number of immigrants who are eligible to vote

945,800

Number of immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens

290,800

Number of immigrants who are eligible for naturalization

Undocumented Immigrants

The presence of a significant number of undocumented immigrants in the United States, most of whom have lived in the country for more than five years, poses many legal and political challenges. But while politicians continue to debate what to do about illegal immigration, millions of undocumented immigrants are working across the country, contributing billions of dollars to the U.S. economy.

93.6% Share of undocumented immigrants who are working age

467,400

Number of undocumented immigrants

40,500

Undocumented entrepreneurs
Undocumented household income
Total spending power
State & Local Taxes Paid $1.8B
Federal Taxes Paid $2.5B
Total Taxes Paid $4.2B
Share of immigrant population who are undocumented immigrants26.5% Share of population that is undocumented3.7% Share of workforce that is undocumented5.3%
Number of U.S. citizens living with at least one undocumented family member
3.7% Share of U.S. citizens living with at least one undocumented family member
Number of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented family member
9.0% Share of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented family member
Number of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented parent
7.4% Share of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented parent

THE 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.

96.3% Share of DACA-eligible population in labor force that is employed

62,800

Number of DACA-eligible residents
DACA-eligible household income
Total spending power
State & Local Taxes Paid $319.7M
Federal Taxes Paid $382.7M
Total Taxes Paid $702.4M

27,810

Number of active DACA recipients

45,512

Number of people with DACA granted

13,800

Number of additional residents who would satisfy all but the educational requirements for DACA

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 entreprenuerial spirit, actually sustain and strengthen their new hometowns.

97.9%

Employment rate of likely refugees

82.9%

Share of refugees who are naturalized U.S. citizens

78,600

Number of likely refugees

8,100

Number of refugee entrepreneurs

$172.7M

Total business income of refugee entrepreneurs
Refugee household income
Total spending power
State & Local Taxes Paid $488.9M
Federal Taxes Paid $866.5M
Total Taxes Paid $1.4B

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.

90.3% Share of TPS holders who are working age

12,400

Number of TPS holders