MUNCIE, Ind. -- "Immigrants. We get the job done," says the lyric from "Hamilton" the musical.
A new study from Ball State seems to back that statement with the conclusion that Indiana has depended on immigrants to drive economic and population growth since 2000.
The analysis found that about one of every 20 Hoosiers accounted for 27 percent of the state's population growth from 2000 to 2015.
The research, done by Emily Wornell with BSU's Indiana Communities Institute, also found that roughly 85,000 second-generation Americans living in Indiana are the largest single economic contributor (earning, taxes and job creation) of a demographic group.
Immigrants are also keeping about 20 percent of Indiana counties from losing population. Cass and Clinton counties have seen immigrant populations keep their total.
Indiana's north central counties have the best chance for growth by increasing their immigrant population.
In addition, Wornell's research found that 30.3 percent of the foreign-born population in Indiana earned bachelor's degrees compared to 23.7 percent native-born Hoosiers.
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