New Americans in Northern Utah

New research from the American Immigration Council highlights the key role that new Americans are playing in northern Utah’s workforce and as taxpayers, consumers, entrepreneurs, international students, and more. This research brief, prepared in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, uses American Community Survey data to show the demographic and economic contributions that immigrants are making across the region. The report focuses on northern Utah’s rural communities, including Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Morgan, Rich, Tooele, and Weber counties.

Key findings from the brief include:  

• Northern Utah is attracting new American talent. Between 2000 and 2019, the region welcomed more than 7,500 immigrants from abroad or other U.S. states. In 2019, nearly half, or 48.2 percent, of northern Utah’s immigrants were naturalized citizens. 
• New Americans are starting businesses and working in fast-growing industries. New Americans represented 5.1 percent of northern Utah’s population, but 7.2 percent of entrepreneurs, 4.9 percent of STEM workers, 11.6 percent of manufacturing workers, and 4.8 percent of healthcare workers in 2019, contributing a wide array of skills in fast-growing industries. 
• New Americans contribute to northern Utah’s economy as taxpayers and consumers. In 2019, new Americans contributed $183.0 million in federal taxes and $98.0 million in state & local taxes and held $947.0 million in spending power helping to fuel the regional economy. 
• Half of the region’s new American professionals struggled to find jobs that match their skills. In 2019, 51.8 percent of college-educated immigrants worked in jobs that did not require a bachelor’s degree.  
• International students support jobs in northern Utah. 769 international students enrolled in northern Utah’s colleges and universities during the 2021-22 school year contributed $42.5 million to the U.S. economy and supported 457 jobs.