STUDY: The Hardest Working Immigrant Populations in the United States
Our latest study analyzes which U.S. states have the most hard-working immigrant populations. The analysis includes the number of immigrant workers, business owners, the total immigrant population, business income, and the number of Fortune 500 companies founded by immigrants or their children. To ensure fair comparisons, our key metrics were normalized per 100,000 immigrant residents. States were then ranked based on immigrant workforce participation, with higher scores indicating greater levels of labor force engagement among immigrant communities.
Key Takeaways
- Alaska leads the list of states with the most hard-working immigrant population, as 40,200 of its 54,100 foreign-born residents are employed.
- With the smallest immigrant population of 27,800, North Dakota ranks second for high engagement of foreigners in the labor market.
- Utah holds the third spot on the list, with immigrant entrepreneurs generating an annual income of $684 million.
<em>You can access the full research findings </em><a href=”https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTEIDX7336dK2mQW3RpsY2hgDjAtgBtjX9y_x_gZyoWD0RHlHKuUS7K4qgyAp78WH1w0JMTwdknz3Rv/pubhtml”><em>here.</em></a>
“The numbers tell an unexpected story about immigrant success,” says Arinda Brooks, Founding Attorney at Brooks Law Firm. “States like Alaska and North Dakota aren’t traditional immigrant destinations, but they’re creating something special – places where newcomers can quickly move from employment to ownership. It’s not just about working hard – it’s about states with fewer bureaucratic barriers and communities where immigrant expertise is actually valued. Most politicians still focus on border policies while completely missing this economic engine in unexpected places”. See the full study here.
Alaska leads the list of states with the most hard-working immigrant population, reporting 74,307 workers per 100k foreign-born residents. Among all these immigrants, 2,522 are business owners, generating an income of $76.3 million annually.
North Dakota is second in the labor force involvement among foreign-born individuals, recording a workforce participation rate of 73,741 per 100k immigrants. Out of the 20,500 immigrants in the workforce, 1,506 are entrepreneurs, with their businesses generating $66.8 million in annual income.
Utah ranks third among all US states, with 70,646 immigrants per 100k engaged in the labor market. The state has a foreign-born population of 304,900. 21,300 immigrants in Utah have established businesses, earning a yearly income of $684 million.
Minnesota secures the fourth position among US states in terms of foreign workforce participation. The state’s immigrant workforce totals 339,100, including 28,000 business owners. Furthermore, six Fortune 500 firms in the US were founded by immigrants living in Minnesota.
Vermont is fifth on the list of states where foreigners show high levels of work engagement. Although the state has one of the smallest immigrant communities, totaling 28,900 people, 20,300 of them are active participants in the labor market.
Maryland takes the sixth position for the foreigners’ active participation in the labor force. With 7,584 business owners per 100k foreign-born residents, the state holds the third-highest rate of immigrant entrepreneurship. Moreover, entrepreneurs in Maryland produce $2.3 billion annual income – the second highest among top-ranking states.
Virginia ranks seventh for workforce participation among foreign-born residents, with the largest immigrant population of 1,153,300 people. Immigrant business owners generate the highest annual income in this state, reaching $3.1 billion. Besides, out of the top 500 Fortune companies in the US, 13 were founded by immigrants in Virginia, the highest number among the states listed.
Wisconsin ranks eighth for high engagement of immigrant workers in the labor market, with 218,700 foreign-born residents are employed. Out of this group, 18,200 own their businesses. Furthermore, among the top 500 Fortune companies in the US, four were established by immigrants in Wisconsin.
Colorado ranks ninth for immigrant participation in the labor force, with the highest number of 8,063 entrepreneurs per 100k foreigners. Foreign-born business owners generate approximately $1.4 billion of annual income in the state. Additionally, three of the top 500 Fortune companies in the US were founded by immigrants in Colorado.
Iowa completes the top ten states with the highest rates of workforce participation among immigrants. The state is home to 187,300 foreign-born residents, of whom 126,700 are employed. Additionally, immigrant business owners in Iowa generate an annual income of $363.5 million.
| State | Workers per 100k immigrants | Entrepreneurs per 100k immigrants | Immigrant residents | Immigrant workers | Business income of immigrant entrepreneurs |
| Alaska | 74,307 | 4,662 | 54,100 | 40,200 | $76.3M |
| North Dakota | 73,741 | 5,417 | 27,800 | 20,500 | $66.8M |
| Utah | 70,646 | 6,986 | 304,900 | 215,400 | $684.0M |
| Minnesota | 70,294 | 5,804 | 482,400 | 339,100 | $667.4M |
| Vermont | 70,242 | 4,619 | 28,900 | 20,300 | $45.6M |
| Maryland | 69,293 | 7,584 | 1,052,200 | 729,100 | $2.3B |
| Virginia | 68,447 | 7,899 | 1,153,300 | 789,400 | $3.1B |
| Wisconsin | 68,344 | 5,688 | 320,000 | 218,700 | $527.3M |
| Colorado | 68,212 | 8,063 | 563,100 | 384,100 | $1.4B |
| Iowa | 67,645 | 6,994 | 187,300 | 126,700 | $363.5M |
To access the full research, please follow this link.