New report reveals that with significant Massachusetts out-migration, Bay State needs 60,000 new immigrants a year for economy to stay afloat

As people continue to leave Massachusetts, a troubling report reveals that thousands of new immigrants will need to reside in the Bay State each year to keep the workforce afloat.

MassINC Police Center released their findings on Thursday, and the data is concerning.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that the Trump Administration has been cracking down on illegal immigration in addition to restricting the foreign-born population in the United States. With that, Bay State residents have also been leaving the Commonwealth due to cost of living and the surtax. That combination could cause an economic catastrophe as immigrants have become central to the state’s economic growth.

Some of the MassINC report’s key findings include:

-Massachusetts has the second lowest native-born birth rate in the country.

-Immigrants now make up roughly one-quarter of the Massachusetts labor force.

-They estimate the state will need at least 60,000 net new immigrants annually by 2030 just to maintain the current size of its working-age population.

-If current international student declines continue, Massachusetts could lose more than $1.4 billion in economic contributions in 2026/27.

-During President Trump’s first term, his administration was five times more likely to deny high-skilled visas (H-1B) to Massachusetts companies, compared to Biden and Obama. If history repeats itself, these denials could lead to thousands of jobs being offshored from Massachusetts.

-The uncertainty surrounding Temporary Protected Status, especially for Haitian workers, has emerged as one of the clearest short-term labor force risks cited by industry representatives. Many TPS holders provide direct care in nursing homes, hospitals, and work as home health aides. The Massachusetts Senior Care Association estimates that 40 percent of nursing facility workers in Massachusetts are foreign-born, including roughly 2,000 frontline workers with Haitian TPS status.

-Immigrant workers, many of whom are undocumented, play key frontline roles building new housing in a state already facing severe housing shortages. Homebuilders described growing workforce instability and project delays resulting in large part from fear of ICE activity. While projects have not fully shut down due to the immigration crackdown, employers repeatedly warned that gradual labor force erosion can lead to delays and added costs that compound over time, particularly when combined with high interest rates and rising materials costs.

For more on the report, click here.