Immigrants and refugees fueling a stronger Quad Cities
Diversity is one of the Quad Cities’ greatest assets in creating a stronger regional economy. There’s a rich history of immigrants settling in the region and building many of the industries that thrive here. Today, immigrants and refugees continue to be welcomed in the region, fueling the economy and filling important roles within our community.
In our QC metro area, about 5.6% of our population is foreign-born. This may seem low, but the rate at which our foreign-born population is growing paints a different picture. A study from World Relief and Augustana College shows that from 2010 to 2019, the QC metro’s total population grew by just 1.1%; while in the same period, the foreign-born population grew by a striking 18.6%.
Supplying the QC workforce and economy
Immigrants and refugees are fulfilling valuable positions in manufacturing, education, healthcare and agriculture, to name a few industries. They come to the Quad Cities in pursuit of opportunities to work with the region’s employers and live in our increasingly diverse region of communities. Those that opt not to find a job oftentimes do so because they are entrepreneurs focused on creating jobs instead.
Recently, the Chamber partnered with the Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, IowaWORKS and World Relief to host the Immigrant & Refugee Job Fair, where 34 regional employers came to meet with hundreds of immigrants and refugees looking for job opportunities. As a refugee workforce liaison with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Edgar Ramirez works to connect refugees with employers. Ramirez said that the refugees he works with have aspirations of moving up the ladder in their workplace. “When they come here, they see opportunity. The sky's the limit. They're committed to work and they’re interested in moving up the ladder, from an entry-level position to becoming an astronaut.”
One of the refugees searching for a job was Irene Nzoyitazira, who fled with her family from war-torn Burundi in 2007 and has been living in the Quad Cities for around 10 years. Nzoyitazira believes that her experiences have led her and other refugees to possess a uniquely robust work ethic. “We have a very strong work ethic because of the conditions that we come from. Living in Africa, you have to hustle. Not only are we intelligent, but we also have the physical strength to do what we need to.”
Like Nzoyitazira, Pascal Ramadhni came to the QC after fleeing violence in Africa. Originally from Congo, Ramadhni is an employment caseworker at World Relief, working to help refugees like himself find jobs and become self-sufficient after arriving in the QC from overseas. He said that the refugees he works with are searching for good work opportunities. “Once individuals get here, they know what they need to do in order to survive. They push themselves when they see an opportunity. When they find a job, they are on time at work and they're hard-working. They're ready to do anything to survive.”
Nzoyitazira and Ramadhni are two of the many working immigrants in the Quad Cities who will play vital roles in the workforce building the Quad Cities of the future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2022, the labor force participation rate of the foreign-born was 65.9%, while the native-born labor force participation rate sat at 61.5%. Additionally, the proportion of the foreign-born workforce aged 25-54 sat at 71.1%, compared to just 62.2% for the native-born. They're also fulfilling vital jobs such as service occupations, maintenance occupations and production at higher rates than the native-born population. The vast majority of immigrants contribute to the workforce, are of ideal working age and look to build meaningful careers in their new homes.
The economic impact of immigrants and refugees as workers in the regional economy cannot be understated. Immigrants and refugees add significant value as consumers and taxpayers. According to the study from World Relief and Augustana College, in 2019 immigrants in Rock Island County and Scott County combined to contribute $14,923,014 in taxes while possessing $36,503,334 in spending power.
Whether immigrants are coming to the region for greater job opportunities, better healthcare services or to seek safety, their perspectives and cultures are creating a positive impact in our communities. In addition to the economic benefits of immigration, the QC is enjoying a more diversified arts scene, events calendar, menu of cuisines and much more as immigrants continue settling in the region, intent on making the Quad Cities home.
Immigrants or refugees interested in playing a role in forging a stronger regional economy should consider joining the Chamber’s Immigrant/Refugee Business Council, which aims to address barriers and challenges affecting immigrant and refugee-owned businesses, such as access to funding, knowledge and mentoring as well as building support networks.