Miami Ranks First in the U.S. for Foreign Born Residents and International Cargo

Miami, FL – Miami ranks first among large U.S. metros for the share of its residents who are immigrants (41 percent of the population), placing the metro ahead of San Jose, L.A., and San Francisco, according to a new research brief from the FIU + CCG | Miami Urban Future Initiative (MUFI). The report also finds that Miami ranks first among large U.S. metros according to the amount of merchandise goods, commodities, and cargo that it transported internationally in 2016 ($1.5 million tons).

“With its enviable location, prominent international airport, and major port, Miami now serves as an economic and financial hub for Latin America and a gateway to Europe and the rest of the world,” explains Richard Florida, Visiting Fellow at the FIU Miami Urban Future Initiative. “Miami is quickly taking its position as a dominant global center, ranking among the top international cities in the world.”

In its latest research report, “Benchmarking Miami’s Globalization,” MUFI evaluates Miami’s status as a global hub compared to 52 large U.S. metros with more than one million people. The report takes a close look at Miami’s foreign-born residents, exports, international freight, international airport passengers, and foreign-owned businesses.

The following are some of Miami’s key global strengths:

• Miami’s people make it global. Miami ranks second according to its share of residents who moved to the metro from outside the U.S. in 2015 (1.9 percent).
• Miami’s educated and high-skill workforce is critically dependent on foreign-born talent. Miami ranks second among large U.S. metros according to the foreign-born share of residents with a bachelor’s degree or above (41.4 percent) or advanced degree (39.4 percent).
  
• Miami is an export powerhouse. Miami ranks seventh among large U.S. metros according to its exports, having exported $33.3 billion in goods and services in 2015.
  
• Miami’s airport is a global advantage. Miami ranks second among large U.S. metros according to its number of international passengers, behind New York and just ahead of L.A.
• Many foreign-owned businesses call Miami home. With more than 2,500 foreign-owned business establishments, Miami ranks alongside Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., ahead of San Francisco, and behind New York, L.A., and Chicago.

The full report is available here.

MUFI Visiting Fellow Richard Florida will deliver the keynote at the 2018 Greater Miami Chamber of Conference IMPACT Conference on Friday, June 1st at 8:30 a.m. at the Turnberry Isle Miami (19999 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180). Reporters are encouraged to attend to learn more about MUFI’s latest research.

THE FIU + CCG | MIAMI URBAN FUTURE INITIATIVE.
The Miami Urban Future Initiative is a joint effort between the Creative Class Group and Florida International University’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (CARTA) to develop new research and insights for building a stronger, more innovative, and more inclusive economy in Greater Miami. The initiative engages top thinkers and researchers from across the region and the world to combine their knowledge with that of the region’s business leaders, economic development practitioners, and other key stakeholders. Its efforts are made possible thanks to generous funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.