Immigrants have a positive impact on the Los Angeles economy through their high rates of workforce participation, large tax contributions, and spending power, according to a New American Economy (NAE) report.

The report, New Americans in Los Angeles, finds:

• In 2014, foreign-born residents in Los Angeles County contributed $232.9 billion to the county’s GDP, with $95.3 billion from Hispanic immigrants; $81.7 billion from Asian immigrants; and $55.9 billion from other foreign-born groups.

• In 2014, immigrants made up more than half– 51.5 percent– of Los Angeles County’s self-employed workers and they generated $7.2 billion in business income. That year in the City of Los Angeles, immigrants accounted for 53.6 percent of the city’s self-employed workers and their businesses generated $3.5 billion dollars.

• In 2014, a vast majority of the foreign born in Los Angeles had lived in the United States for more than a decade, making up 80.7 percent of the foreign born in the county and 79.3 percent in the city, respectively.

• In 2014, foreign-born residents contributed $17.3 billion in federal taxes in the county and $6.9 billion in the city, as well as $7.9 billion in state and local taxes in the county and $3.2 billion in city.

• While 34.6 percent of the population, immigrants made up 43.2 percent of the employed labor force and 41.1 percent of the area’s working-age population in Los Angeles County. In the City of Los Angeles, while 37.8 percent of the overall population, immigrants made up 46.7 percent of the employed labor force and 44.8 percent of the working age population.

Read the full report here.

Los Angeles is one of 20 communities selected in the Gateways for Growth Challenge, an opportunity from NAE and Welcoming America that invited communities across the United States to apply for support for the development and implementation of multi-sector strategic plans for welcoming and integrating new Americans.