Immigration a driving force in Pa. economy, filling labor shortages

Foreign-born Pa. population has spending power of more than $30 billion

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    November 13, 2024 | 11:14 AM

HARRISBURG, Nov. 13 – Since the founding of Pennsylvania, the state’s history and economic success has been shaped by immigrants. The Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition joined organizational leaders and advocates to present testimony at a joint House Majority Policy Committee hearing about the economic impact of immigration in Pennsylvania.  

The hearing livestream can be found here. Testifiers presented recent findings before a joint gathering of the House Majority Policy Committee and Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus, highlighting the history and research that point to an economic decline if Pennsylvania’s immigrant population disappears.

“Immigrants are small business owners, healthcare workers, educators, and laborers,” said Rep. Danillo Burgos, who served as the hearing host. Burgos also serves as the chairman on the House Majority Policy Subcommittee on Progressive Policies and is the chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus. “They support industries essential to Pennsylvania’s economy while revitalizing neighborhoods and investing in our community’s future.”           

The 2024 report by Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition highlighted challenges facing the state, including labor shortages because of an aging and decreasing population. Without enough workers to fill job openings, the cost of living is expected to rise, and the state will need to attract workers from outside the state because it has a median age that surpasses the national average.

“We need to be cognizant, Pennsylvania has about 1 million foreign-born residents who are indispensable – in our workforce and community – when it comes to forging a better future for the commonwealth,” House Majority Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro said. “Pennsylvania residents have been hard hit by cost-of-living expenses, a hard fact that will only get worse until we address workforce shortages, including through immigration."

Testifiers detailed pieces of legislation which would benefit Pennsylvania.

“House Bill 796 would help provide access to driver’s licenses for all, and it would help our state expand our tax base and improve safety in our communities,” Burgos said.

Wednesday’s House Majority Policy Committee hearing featured testimony from Julio Rodriguez, the political director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition; Kyle Kopko, the executive director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania; Cathryn Miller-Wilson, the executive director of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Pennsylvania; Julia Morales, the mobilization and tactics coordinator of the Movement of Immigrant Leaders in Pennsylvania; and Jenna Baron, the executive director of Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education.

Information about this hearing and other House Majority Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy. Photos to be used for publication can be found at pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee/Galleries.