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Are immigrants more likely to be entrepreneurs than people born in the US?

By EconoFact
YES

In America, immigrants are three times more likely to start firms than people born in the U.S., according to estimates from an article published in 2020.

Immigrants have a higher probability of starting small firms (those with 0-10 employees), medium firms (11 – 999 employees) and large firms (1000 employees or more) relative to the native-born.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of immigrants let into the US dropped sharply, leading to an estimated shortfall of about two million immigrants who would otherwise be in the country.

More than 40% of companies on the 2021 Fortune 500 list were started by immigrants or children of immigrants, including Amazon, Ford, General Electric and Pfizer.  

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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EconoFact is a non-partisan publication designed to bring key facts and incisive analysis to the national debate on economic and social policies. Launched in January 2017, it is written by leading academic economists from across the country who belong to the EconoFact Network. It is published by the Edward R. Murrow Center for a Digital World at The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
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