New IRI report highlighted in Newsday article

IRI’s new report, “Immigrants in the Long Island Economy: Overcoming Hurdles, Yet Still Facing Barriers,” was featured in an article published by Newsday. The article showcased the report’s findings on the economic circumstances of immigrants on Long Island, which show that many immigrants work in middle- and upper-wage jobs but there are still a smaller sizable group of immigrants who work in low-wage jobs and are struggling to make ends meet.

Both IRI co-authors were quotes in the Newsday article:

“There are two important things to hold in your head,” said David Dyssegaard Kallick, director of the Immigrant Research Initiative and co-author of the report, “Immigrants in the Long Island Economy: Overcoming Hurdles, Yet Still Facing Barriers.”

“Immigrants are mostly in middle and upper wage jobs … They are a really important part of the Long Island economy. ” Kallick said. “At the same time, immigrants face real challenges in the low-wage labor market. It’s more severe when we look at questions of race and gender. Those are not contradictory ideas. Mostly, immigrants are doing quite well and contributing very fully to the economy. And yet it’s also true that immigrants are disproportionately struggling to make ends meet.”

Anthony Capote was also quoted:

“we’re sort of seen as a left-leaning institution … we didn’t come into this analysis to make an overt political point. … On one end, immigrants tend to do a lot better than we give them credit for. Yet, there is still a large swath of immigrants trapped in low-wage work. They are caring for our children, cleaning our homes … struggling to survive.”

For the full Newsday article, click here.