Population Growth Driven by Immigration
“By 2043, deaths exceed births, population growth after that point is driven entirely by net immigration, in CBO’s projections,” the report states. “Over the course of the next decade, immigration accounts for about three-quarters of the overall increase in the size of the population, and the net effects of fertility and mortality account for the remaining quarter.”
Population growth is being determined by births, deaths, and net immigration (the number of all people who enter the United States less the number who leave in that year). In CBO’s projections, when fertility rates remain low immigration becomes an important part of overall population growth.
Why is immigration important to the U.S. population?
One reason is the future of federal programs, like Social Security or Medicare, which depend on working-age people contributing to the stability of the programs. CBO predicts that the average number of people over 65 will grow six times faster, per year, than the number of people of prime working age, between 25 and 54. According to the Social Security Administration, this is correct.
As recently as 2005 there were five prime age workers (age 25 to 54) for every senior citizen over 65 according to the Administration. By 2030 that ratio will be below three, and it will continue to fall steadily. This will present a great economic and labor challenge to the country as a whole.
What can we do to support immigration?
Supporting an update to immigration legislation and supporting new legislation that seeks to bring trained immigrants to the U.S. is the first step.
“It is understandable that human beings have difficulty solving complex problems. But this one isn’t complex. It isn’t even that interesting. We are running short of people, the world is teeming with highly skilled people who would have to come here, and they would be making this country richer and better from day one,” as Brett Arends wrote in an opinion piece for MarketWatch.
In addition, supporting programs like One Percent For America’s, as a donor or investor, ensures more eligible immigrants can become citizens with the support of immigration loans. Equally, finding nonprofits near you that help immigrants learn English, learn about credit and finances in the U.S., and overall support immigration is also an option.
The U.S. has become a great nation thanks to the contributions of immigrants, and the reality is that our nation’s future depends on this population.
