A survey report on U.S. Immigration shows that the entrepreneurship rate of first-generation immigrants in the United States reaches 16.4%, nearly twice that of their children (second-generation immigrants) and higher than that of non-immigrants. This phenomenon may be attributed to first-generation immigrants' ability to think outside the box and view their environment from different perspectives, thus seizing more opportunities.
The survey indicates that 48% of the first-generation immigrant respondents see business opportunities locally, higher than the 44% of second-generation immigrants and 43% of non-immigrants. First-generation immigrants also exhibit greater entrepreneurial confidence compared to second-generation immigrants and non-immigrants, but only 5% of first-generation immigrants are able to sustain operations for more than three and a half years after starting a business, lower than the 7% of second-generation immigrants and 9% of non-immigrants.
Among first-generation immigrants, 41% of respondents established consumer-oriented businesses, while 42% founded business services. In contrast, among their peers, 62% established business services firms, and only 16% started consumer-oriented businesses.
The survey also found that first-generation immigrant entrepreneurs generally have higher educational attainment, with 57% of respondents holding a college degree or higher, compared to 32% of second-generation immigrants and 45% of non-immigrants. This may be because second-generation immigrants with a college degree find jobs more easily than their parents and are more willing to pursue stable employment, leading to a decreased desire for entrepreneurship. Additionally, first-generation immigrants are generally wealthier than second-generation or non-immigrant entrepreneurs, with 63% of respondents belonging to the highest-income one-third in the United States.
