Our Research

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Our Research

Global Detroit began with a study on the powerful impacts that immigrants have on the regional economy. In the decade since, we have and continue to produce an extensive body of research related to the economic impacts of immigrants, as well as recommendations for inclusive strategies for our cities, regions, states and nation. 

International Student Talent in the Michigan Workforce

A Growing Solution to the STEM Talent Gap

The number of international student graduates entering the Michigan workforce has grown exponentially in the last two decades and offers Michigan employers a significant opportunity to expand their talent pools, especially around high-skilled STEM positions. This report uses data that has never been assembled before to analyze all the international students attending Michigan colleges and universities and/or working on OPT in Michigan from 2004-2016, and draws important conclusions about the potential for international students to meet Michigan’s growing talent needs and shortages, especially around high-skilled STEM posision. This study was created in partnership with One Magnify and Pew Research Center, and was generously sponsored by Fakhoury Global Immigration and OpTech LLC.

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Building Inclusive Cities

Immigration and Neighborhood Change in Detroit

This report details the results of a two-year study of the impacts of rapid immigration growth in two Detroit neighborhoods, concluding that welcoming and supporting immigrants is a concrete, highly effective strategy to stabilize and revitalize disinvested neighborhoods with tangible benefits to both new and long-term residents. One of the first studies ever to look at the impacts of rapid immigration growth on neighborhoods and long-term residents, the findings could be applied to many post-industrial cities across the U.S. The study was conducted by Global Detroit in partnership with Alan Mallach and Data Driven Detroit. (2021)

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Immigrant Housing in Detroit

According to survey research, immigrant Detroiters are every bit as eager to become homeowners as non-immigrant residents. This study sheds light on barriers that may explain lower homeownership rates among immigrant Detroiters, including significantly less awareness of credit scores and lower usage of bank accounts. The study indicates that building more inclusive financial literacy, budgeting, banking, and homeownership programs will pay tremendous dividends for increasing homeownership in Detroit. (2018)

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The Economic Impact of Refugees in Southeast Michigan

Michigan has been the fourth largest destination state for refugees over the last decade. Global Detroit’s research documents that these new Michiganders have been a source of strength to the Michigan economy.  The study conservatively estimates total annual economic impact of refugees to be between $229.6 million and $295.3 million in new spending, along with between 1,798 and 2,311 new jobs, in 2016 alone, from the over 21,000 refugees in resettled into Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties between 2007-2016. (2017)

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