Foreign-Born Population Increases in the Capital Region

The Capital Region, encompassing Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties, has seen significant growth in its foreign-born population in recent years. According to the 2018-22 US Census 5-year estimates, 74,314 people, or 8.52% of the total population in the region, are foreign-born. Despite this substantial presence, the proportion of the foreign-born population in the Capital Region still falls below the national percent of 13.68% and New York state’s percent of 22.55%.

Of all foreign-born people living in the Capital Region, 64.95% arrived in the United States prior to 2010, 35.05% arrived after. This distribution reflects both longstanding foreign-born communities and more recent arrivals, contributing to the region’s diverse cultural and economic landscape.

Countries of Origin for the Foreign-Born Population

Most of the foreign-born population in the Capital Region are from Asia and Latin America. Over time, the origins of the foreign-born population in the region have shifted. In 2010, the region saw more foreign-born people from Europe, Oceania, and North America. Today, there are more foreign-born people coming from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Language

Historically, learning English has been crucial for the integration of the foreign-born population. Among those over the age of 5, majority speak a language other than English. In each of the four counties, more than 40% of the foreign-born population communicates in a language other than English. Albany County leads with 74.4% of its foreign-born residents speaking a language other than English, while Schenectady County has the smallest proportion at 41%. Meaning 58% of the foreign-born population speak only English at home in Schenectady County. English proficiency poses a significant challenge for many foreign-born individuals. Albany County reports the highest percentage of foreign-born individuals speaking English less than “very well” at 33.10%. In all counties, majority of native-born individuals speak only English, with over 94% proficiency and less than 1.0% speaking English less than “very well”.

Education

The educational attainment levels between the native and foreign-born populations vary across the four counties. In each county, both native and foreign-born populations show similarities in obtaining bachelor’s degrees among those aged 25 and older. However, Schenectady County stands out with the lowest percentage of both native-born and foreign-born individuals obtaining a bachelor’s degree, and Schenectady County also exhibits the highest disparity (19.7% for native-born vs. 13.6% for foreign-born) between the two groups. A higher percentage of the foreign-born population in all four counties obtain a graduate or professional degree compared to the native-born population.

Employment

In all counties except Rensselaer County, the labor force participation rate of the over-sixteen foreign-born population is higher than that of the native-born population. Additionally, the foreign-born population in the region has a lower unemployment rate compared to the native-born population.

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The three largest industries that employ the region’s foreign-born population in the Capital Region include:

Albany County:

• Educational services, and health care and social assistance (30.8%)
• Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (13.3%)
• Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (11.1%)

Rensselaer County:

• Educational services, and health care and social assistance (27.3%)
• Manufacturing (11.9%)
• Retail Trade (9.3%)

Saratoga County:

• Educational services, and health care and social assistance (20.4%)
• Manufacturing (18.0%)
• Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (13.8%)

Schenectady County:

• Educational services, and health care and social assistance (30.4%)
• Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (11.9%)
• Retail Trade (10.3%)
• Manufacturing (10.3%)

The native-born population in the counties shares a similar employment pattern with the foreign-born population, with high percentages in the same major industries. However, a notable difference is that a higher proportion of native-born individuals have careers in public administration, which is among the top industries in Albany and Rensselaer counties.

Socioeconomic Characteristics

There are an estimated 32,820 foreign-born households in the Capital Region, with an average household income of $92,557. This figure surpasses the median income for the native-born population, which stands at $83,472. However, despite their higher average household income, the foreign-born population in all four counties faces higher rates of poverty compared to their native-born counterparts.

In addition to income disparities, the foreign-born population exhibits several distinct demographic characteristics. They are more likely to be married, tend to have larger household sizes, and are more likely to rent rather than own their homes. These factors contribute to the economic and social dynamics within the foreign-born communities of the Capital Region. These insights into the foreign-born population in the Capital Region highlight both their contributions and the challenges they face.

Sources:

2006-10 5-Year ACS Estimates

2018-22 5-Year ACS Estimates