Immigrant Entrepreneurship

America thrives on people willing take risks for an idea and driven by their ambition to prosper.

About Immigrant Entrepreneurship

Legal immigrants are among America’s most ambitious innovators—starting businesses and developing new products at rates far higher than the native-born population. Their willingness to take risks and build something new reflects both the pursuit of the American Dream and the power of a free, open market. In fact, more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, underscoring their central role in driving American innovation and job creation. 

Pioneer works to ensure that this energy translates into lasting prosperity. Our goals are to remove unnecessary occupational-licensing barriers that keep skilled workers out of the market and to expand English-language and workforce integration so legal immigrants can fully participate in—and help lead—the next era of American innovation.

June 13, 2024

Study Finds Prevalence of Entrepreneurship Tied to Regulatory Environment, Portion of Immigrants

The prevalence of entrepreneurship is linked to both the regulatory environment and the portion of foreign-born immigrants in a jurisdiction, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute.
January 29, 2024

Skill-based immigration could ease labor shortage

A recent Biden administration executive order that amends the Schedule A list, which identifies occupations experiencing labor shortages and allows immigrants in those occupations to expedite their employment in the U.S., could positively impact the hiring of skilled international workers for years to come — a welcome development as the country and Massachusetts struggle to attract talent amidst a worsening labor shortage.
November 30, 2023

Navigating Labor Shortages: The Role of Immigrants and the Potential of Schedule A

Milliken underscores the current unprecedented combination of low unemployment and high job openings, particularly in sectors like hospitality, healthcare, and education. She addresses the vital role immigrants play in the workforce, and advocates for leveraging Schedule A, a regulation that expedites the green card process for occupations facing high labor demand.
October 26, 2023

Empowering Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Natalia Frois’ Journey to Success in Building Business Networks on Cape Cod

Natalia Frois, a Brazilian immigrant and CEO of International Business Relations in Massachusetts, discusses how she supports immigrants and Hispanic entrepreneurs by offering classes, resources, and English education, drawing on her trilingual skills and personal experience. Frois shares how her mission aids business success and community integration.

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Meet the Experts

Aidan Enright

Aidan Enright

Economic Research Associate, Fellow on Immigrant Entrepreneurship

Electricity Generation by State: 2023

How much electricity do states produce? In 2023, Texas generated twice as much power as Florida, the next closest state. At the other end of the spectrum, Vermont produced the least electricity and had the lowest per capita generation rate. Explore the data on US DataLabs! https://loom.ly/-trkbR4
#facts#electricitygeneration