Jim Damicis gave this presentation at the Main Multicultural Center conference in April 2018.

1. Maine Perspective on
Immigration & the Economy
Maine Multicultural Center
April 11 2018
Jim Damicis
Senior Vice President

2. • Maine’s Population GrowthI.
• Aging PopulationII.
• Labor ForceIII.
• Immigrants in Maine by Region of OriginIV.
• Immigrants are Critical to Maine’s
Economy
V.
• Barriers Immigrants FaceVI.
• Strategies and PoliciesVII.
Agenda

3. 2007: 1,327,040 2017: 1,335,907
Flat Historical Growth

4. Slower Growth Rate

5. Source: State of Maine Office of Policy and Management
Flat Growth Projected

6. An Older Population

7. And Getting Older

8. A Tightening Labor Force

9. Workforce Trends – Workforce Development
is Economic Development
• Growth of the independent workers
• Workforce is regional, not local
• Diversity – immigration – movement from problem
to be dealt with to economic opportunity
• No one answer, all of these are important:
• Service jobs
• Middle skills jobs
• High tech
• Technical and soft skills
• Lifelong blended learning – traditional as well as
non-tradition higher education – task economy

10. An Opportunity for Labor Force
Maine United States
Total Labor Force 1,101,688 253,323,709
Foreign Born Labor Force 43,950 40,238,747
Percentage of Foreign Born in Total Labor Force 4.0% 15.9%
Total Labor Force Participation Rate 63.2% 63.5%
Foreign Born Participation Rate 60.1% 66.4%
Labor Force Participation, 2016
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Note: Based on population 16 years and over

11. Where are Immigrants From?

12. In the Past - Immigrants Were
Critical to Maine’s Economy
 In 1910, Maine was at the peak of an immigration wave
providing crucial labor for its biggest industries. The US
Census of that year found that 16% of Maine’s population
were immigrants.
 Output in the paper and wood pulp; lumber and timber;
textiles; and footwear industries heavily reliant on
immigrant work
Source: 100 Years Ago, Maine’s Economy Was Powered by Immigrants
September 18, 2017, James Myall - http://myall.bangordailynews.com/2017/09/18/maine/100-years-
ago-maines-economy-was-powered-by-immigrants/

13. And Today - Immigrants are
Critical to Maine’s Economy
 Industries with largest share of foreign-born workers:
 Computer systems design and related service (21%)
 Home health care services (14%)
 Traveler accommodation (10%)
 Colleges, universities and professional schools (9%)
 Groceries and Related products (9%)
 3.2% of Maine business owners are foreign born
 Immigrant-owned businesses in Maine generated total net
income of $120 million in 2010
Source: Sillerman Center

14. Immigrants and the US Economy
 Contribute to economic expansion
 Fuel U.S. STEM industries
 Immigrant-Owned businesses have a large impact
 Supplement the labor force in critical ways
 Do not disproportionately use public benefits
 Over the long term, immigrants raise wages and
increase employment for native workers.
 From 1990-2006, immigration caused a 2.86% real
wage increase for the average worker and an increase
of 11% employment.
 This is especially true for the STEM fields.
Source: The Economic Development Impacts of Immigration, International Economic Development Council

15. Immigrants Entrepreneurship In the US
 From 2006 - 2012, 24.3% of engineering and technology
companies had at least one immigrant founder.
 Immigrants are 2x as likely to start a business as native born.
 Immigrant-owned businesses are 60% more likely to export than
are non-immigrant-owned businesses.
 A 2012 study by the Partnership for a New American Economy
found that immigrant-owned businesses employ one out of
every 10 private-sector workers in the country.
Source: The Economic Development Impacts of Immigration, International Economic Development Council

16. But Barriers Exist
 Language
 Credential and certification recognition challenges
 Lack of prior US work experience
 Lack of transportation
 Financial challenges facing higher-education
 Racism and discrimination

17. Strategies and Policies
 Develop strategic plans to integrate immigrants into the Maine’s
labor force and economy
 Educate private sector on workforce integration services
 Engage employers to improve immigrant job quality through
aiding immigrant workers in a path to US citizenship
 Increase funding for educational and workforce development
programs and help immigrants access immigrants
 Promote partnerships between workforce and immigrant serving
organizations
 Improve tracking of workforce development services for foreign-
born individuals
 Tell the stories to help change attitudes

18. Questions

19. Jim Damicis
Senior Vice President
Camoin Associates
Phone: (207) 831-1061
Email: jim@camoinassociates.com
Web: www.camoinassociates.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jdamicis/