Authors: James Orr, Susan Wieler, and Joseph Pereira

An analysis of upstate New York’s foreign-born residents suggests that they contribute to the region’s human capital in important ways. This population boasts a greater concentration of college graduates than either the region’s native-born population or immigrants downstate. While some immigrants upstate may compete with U.S.-born workers for jobs, the more highly educated appear to be entering skilled occupations—in medicine, science, and research particularly—that complement those of native-born residents.