How immigration is affecting economic growth in Seattle

While immigration has been a political flashpoint in recent years, new data shows metro-level economic growth has been strongest in communities with rising foreign-born populations.

That’s according to findings from Brookings Institution’s annual Metro Monitor research, which analyzed how economic growth among the nation’s largest metropolitan areas related to changes in their share of foreign-born, working-age population over a decade.

According to the data, the metros that ranked in the top quartile for increases in foreign-born population also posted stronger economic growth (as measured by gross metropolitan product), higher employment growth and higher average wages — among several other metrics.

In the Seattle metro, the share of foreign-born workers increased 6.9 percentage points to 27.4% between 2014 and 2024, leading all metros in the "very large" category. For growth, Seattle ranked 19th of 55 metros within its peer group.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2026/04/08/immigration-impact-economic-growth.html