In recent years, there has been considerable debate regarding the economic influence of new immigrants in Colorado, particularly as the nation faces an influx of newcomers. Recently, the media has engaged in a lot of unverified discussions about the effects of these immigrants on communities in Colorado, such as Aurora. Immigrants are an integral part of our collective future and economy.

Colorado in itself has become the country’s fastest-growing state for African immigrants. The number of African immigrants in the US has experienced a dramatic increase over the past 40 years, and recent data indicates that Colorado’s growing diversity is largely attributed to the influx of individuals originally from Africa (mainly Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo), the Caribbean and Latin America.

The overall top countries of origin for African American immigrants in Colorado are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.

Cities like Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Lakewood, and Thornton have the highest concentrations of African American immigrants, especially neighborhoods like Five Points, Montbello, Green Valley Ranch, and Aurora’s Hoffman Heights.

This piece is briefly taking a look at how Immigrants of African origin are shaping Colorado’s economy.

What sets the Colorado African American immigrant community apart is their educational attainment and entrepreneurial spirit. A staggering 43% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 34% of the overall state population, having professional positions in healthcare, technology and education. And 13.4% have started their own businesses, compared to the national average of 9.5%.

Majority of these Immigrants work in low-wage, middle-wage, and higher-wage jobs in sectors across the state’s economy. It turns out that immigrant workers in general from all over and business owners generate $54 billion of economic output in Colorado. African Immigrants contribute well over a quarter of that according to a report by the Colorado Fiscal Institute.

As the state population ages, new immigrants help keep the economy growing at a sustainable rate. Immigrants help meet growing needs for health care, home care, and supportive services that are key for older Coloradans to have a dignified retirement.

What a lot of critics who are against Immigration do not realize is that when immigrants move to Colorado and the United States in general, the economy grows. That doesn’t mean fewer jobs, it means more jobs; because there are more consumers, more workers, and more business owners. Study after study shows there is no fixed number of jobs in a state.

Immigration creates opportunities that benefit U.S.-born workers as well.

Overall, the number of African immigrants in the United States has increased 18-fold since 1980. While most of the 4.6 million Black immigrants in the United States are from the Caribbean, people from Africa especially the sub-Saharan region represent a growing share. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the total foreign-born Black population will more than double by 2060, to 9.5 million.

The African community over the years has been getting more organized; it’s also been getting more attention from political candidates running for office.

Most of Colorado’s Africans live in Aurora, home to one of the hottest spots of U.S. politics in recent years. More and more national politicians are starting to court the African community in Colorado because of their growing positive influence.

People are starting to look under the microscope, saying, ‘who are the voters, where are the voting blocs?’

Too often, a lot of Americans tend to look at Africans, in Colorado and other states, as recipients of charity. The community’s growing political, social and cultural engagement in recent years paints an entirely different picture.

It’s only a matter of time before the whole nation realizes what Africans bring and contribute to the state of Colorado and the U.S as a whole.