A new report by New American Economy Immigrant shows that households in Ada County, ID contributed $1.8 billion to the county’s GDP in 2016. The report, New Americans in Ada County, was prepared in partnership with the City of Boise, the Boise Metro Chamber, Global Talent Idaho, and the Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Foreign-born residents in Ada County also earned over $638 million and contributed $109 million to federal taxes and $49.6 million to state and local taxes that same year. Ada County is home to Boise, the capital of Idaho and the largest city in the state.

In addition to their financial contributions, the report shows the foreign-born population’s role as contributors to the workforce in Ada County. Although the foreign-born made up 6.3 percent of the county’s overall population in 2016, they represented 7.5 percent of its working-age population[1], 7.1 percent of its employed labor force, and 12.4 percent of its STEM workers.

New Americans in Ada County also features profiles on two area immigrants: Palina Louangketh and Joaquin Cordero.

The report also finds:

• Immigrants contributed $1.8 Billion to Ada County’s GDP in 2016. Immigrant households earned $637.5 million in income that year.
• Immigrant households contributed $0 million in federal taxes and $49.6 million in state and local taxes. They were left with $478.8 million in spending power.
• Immigrants represented 7.5% of the county’s working age[1] Although the foreign-born made up 6.3% of the county’s overall population, they represented 7.5% of its working-age population, 7.1% of its employed labor force, and 12.4% of its STEM workers in 2016.
• Immigrants play a critical role in several key industries in the county, making up significant shares of key industries in 2016. Foreign-born workers made up 19.3 percent of all workers in agriculture, as well as 15.4 percent of the manufacturing industry, and 9.4 percent of the hospitality and recreation industry.
• 961 students who were enrolled in colleges and universities in the county during the fall of 2015 were temporary residents. These international students supported 296 local jobs and spent $24.7 million in the 2016-2017 academic year.
• Over 40 percent of immigrants in the county—or nearly 11,000 individuals—were naturalized citizens in 2016. 1 percent of the non-citizen population were likely eligible to naturalize.

Click here to access the complete brief.

[1] People aged 16 to 64.