Immigrants Crucial to Reversing Population Decline and Economic Growth in Upstate New York Cities
Immigrants are playing a vital role in reversing population decline and bolstering local economies in upstate New York cities, including Buffalo, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Albany. While New York City is home to the majority of the state's immigrant population, the 1.4 million immigrants residing outside the city are essential to various sectors. They contribute significantly to farming, with over 30,000 farms statewide relying on approximately 57,000 to 67,000 farmworkers. Immigrants also fill critical roles in construction, domestic care, healthcare, and the restaurant industry. In Buffalo, for instance, the U.S.-born population decreased by 31,000 between 2000 and 2022, but an increase of 15,000 immigrants mitigated the net loss by half, stabilizing the city's population decline.