Study details immigrants’ impact on state economy

Monday, Sept. 13, 2004 | 10:54 a.m.

The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and the Center on Work & Community Development have released a study that says Hispanic immigrants contribute $19.7 billion to Nevada's economy.

The study also found Hispanic immigrants paid $1 billion in taxes to the state and local governments in 2001. Nevada ranks sixth in the country for the highest number of immigrants, who make up 16.5 percent of the state's work force. Almost 20 percent of Nevada's residents report they're Hispanic.

Bob Fulkerson, executive director of PLAN, said the study was based on statistics from the 2000 census. He said the study helps to dispel misconceptions that immigrants are a drain on Nevada's economy by taking jobs and using government resources.

"The fact that 85,000 jobs are created indirectly as a result of having Hispanic immigrants of our state, that flies in the face of some of the rhetoric we hear that immigrants are stealing jobs. They represent 17 percent of the work force in Nevada but only get 8 percent of the earnings. That means they're grossly underpaid and we need to change that," Fulkerson said.

PLAN, a nonprofit coalition of about 40 organizations, calls for community leaders and politicians to work to improve the lives and working conditions of Hispanic immigrants through such efforts as encouraging the passage of the Dream Act in Congress. PLAN says the Dream Act would remove barriers to education for the children of undocumented immigrants.

The group also is in favor of raising the state's minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $6.15 an hour.