Immigration a Demographic Lifeline in Midwestern Metros

This paper, updating a 2014 report published by the Chicago Council, examines changing demographics in 46 metro areas in 12 Midwest states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In these metro areas, population growth between 2000 and 2017 has been approximately half the national average. Immigration has played a crucial role in the continued growth of these areas-in some cases reversing actual declines in the native-born population. Immigration has been especially important in adding to the prime working age cohorts as the large aging baby-boom population moves into retirement. With charts that include all 46 metro areas, the author demonstrates that immigrants are supporting the continued vitality of Midwest metro areas and are playing "a critical role in offsetting regional workforce gaps created by an aging native-born population." With outright population decline occurring in parts of the Midwest, immigration is a demographic lifeline, stemming the loss of consumers and workers that Midwest businesses need to survive and thrive. (Maurice Belanger, Maurice Belanger Associates)

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