America’s Foreign-Born Population, Essay Example

From the results, the metropolitan areas studied depict an average rate of graduation with most of them having 25% of their population holding college degrees. This indicates a high level of education. Only two metropolitan areas studied had over 40% of their populations holding college degrees. However, it should be noted that a considerable number of the metropolitan areas have between 15% and 20% of their populations holding college degrees.  15% appears to be the minimum threshold, with three metropolitan areas registering figures in this area.

Most of the metropolitan areas studied have a minimal number (5%) of foreign born residents. Most of these metropolitan areas have between 1 and 5% of their population as foreign born. However, there are a number of metropolitan areas that depict high numbers of foreign born residents. One metropolitan area depicts almost 28% of its residents and foreign born. Four metropolitan areas have over 15% of their population and foreign born residents.

All of the metropolitan areas studied depicted a change in population. The majority of these metropolitan areas experienced a surge in population, mostly between 0.1% and 15%. However, the considerable portion of these metropolitan areas registered between 0.1% and 10% increase in population. About 7 metropolitan areas registered 20%/ 20%+ increase in their population. One metropolitan area stands out with just under 80% population change.

There appears to be some element of racial diversity in the metropolitan areas that are studied. The most dominant race in all metropolitan areas are the white. Whites make up over 60% of most of residents in the metropolitan areas studied. However, there are a few (6) metropolitan areas with less than 60% of their residents being white, of which one metropolitan areas has less than 40% of its population as whites. The second most dominant race in most of the metropolitan areas are the blacks. However, in a considerable number of metropolitan areas, Latinos/Hispanics make up the second most dominant race. Asians make up the least dominant race in all of the metropolitan areas studied.

The metropolitan areas studied were characterized by a median income above 40,000, except for four metropolitan areas. Most of the metropolitan areas had a median income between 45,000 and 55,000. However, there are a number of four metropolitan areas registered median incomes above 60,000, one above 70,000 and the highest above 90,000.

All metropolitan areas studied registered poverty levels below 20% except one. Most of the metropolitan areas had poverty levels between 15% and 17%. However, two metropolitan areas registered poverty levels below 10%.

All urban areas studied registered unemployment levels below 8%. The majority of the metropolitan areas registered unemployment levels between 4% and 6%. However, four metropolitan areas registered unemployment levels below 4%. Four metropolitan areas registered the highest unemployment levels, above 7%. There is a considerable number of metropolitan areas with unemployment ranging between 6% and 7%.

The majority of residents in metropolitan areas drive alone. Most of the residents in these metropolitan areas take between ten to thirty minutes to get to work in the morning. This indicates that most individuals live in relatively close proximity to their places of work. The second highest number of people take half an hour to 1 hour to get to work. The least number of people use public transport in the metropolitan areas studied.

Works Cited

Camarota, Steven A. Immigrants in the United States: A Profile of America’s Foreign-Born Population. Washington: Center for Immigration Studies, 2012.

Eibner, Christine. “Immigration and the Median Voter’s Incentive to Redistribute Income in the United States.” American Economic Review 90 (2000): 96-129.