Photo by furcafe

Immigrants may only make up 22 percent of the Washington, D.C. Metro region’s population, but they account for 28 percent of its workforce and 33 percent of its small business-owners—the fifth-highest rate in the U.S.

A report published today by the Fiscal Policy Institute finds that immigrants are significant participants in the small business economy, making up 18 percent of the 4.9 million small business-owners across the country while representing 13 percent of the total population and 16 percent of the labor force.

Miami and Los Angeles topped the list in most categories. Immigrants make up 39 percent of Miami’s population, 47 percent of the labor force and 45 percent of business-owners; in Los Angeles, they stood at 34, 43 and 44 percent, respectively.

Breaking it down locally, 12.8 percent of Maryland residents, 12.7 percent of D.C. residents and 10.4 percent of Virginia residents are foreign-born. They represent 16.4, 16.7 and 13.7 percent, respectively, of the labor force and 20.9, 18.2 and 17.1 percent, respectively, of small business-owners.

What types of businesses to immigrants own?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are more immigrant restaurant owners than any other category of small business owners. It may be less obvious, however, that the next two categories of small business owners are doctors (physicians with their own practice) and real estate businesses. Grocery stores, truck transportation, computer systems design, management consulting, building services, automotive repair, and landscaping fill out the top 10 list.

Breaking it down further, immigrants make up 65 percent of all taxi and limo service owners, 54 percent of dry cleaners and 53 percent of gas station owners.

And while Mexicans make up the biggest group of immigrants and share of the labor force, they’re less likely to own their own businesses. Greeks are most likely, followed by Israelis and Palestinians, Syrians, Iranians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Italians, Koreans, South Africans, and the Irish.

It was only recently that Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) criticized Asian business-owners in his ward, setting off a firestorm of criticism.