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SALT LAKE CITY — A new University of Utah poll shows that the majority of Utahns think legal immigration is good for the state’s economic climate, while illegal immigration is a drag on the economy.
Results from a recent statewide survey conducted in partnership with the David Eccles School of Business and Dan Jones & Associates revealed that more than 80 percent of Utahns believe legal immigration has a positive effect on the local economy, with more than three-quarters of respondents supporting increased opportunities for legal immigration.
Conversely, 63 percent said illegal immigration had a negative impact on the state’s economy.
According to the survey, 77 percent of Utahns support increasing prospects for foreigners to legally immigrate to the United States. The positive sentiment reflected efforts by Congress to implement immigration reform, the report stated.
“Immigration is a topic Utahns haven’t typically agreed upon,” pollster Dan Jones said. “Survey research indicates that Utahns increasingly recognize that legal immigrants can play an important role in the economy.”
Natalie Gochnour of the Bureau of Economic and Business Research and associate dean at the University of Utah’s business school said she was not surprised by survey results showing that Utahns support legal immigration.
“Utah’s economy is becoming increasingly globalized, due in large measure to the high concentration of bilingual and multilingual residents,” Gochnour said. “A significant number of Utah businesses have operations overseas, and business flows in both directions. As Utah businesses become more diverse, so will the workforce.”
While most Utahns support the notion of legal immigration, the survey showed that some are conflicted on the issue of granting amnesty or legal status to current residents who are in the country illegally. The report showed that 41 percent supported amnesty, but 45 percent were opposed to amnesty.
The greatest support for granting amnesty came from respondents younger than 30, with 55 percent approval in that demographic.
The survey was conducted among a random sampling of 799 registered voters across the state with a statistical margin of error of plus or minus 3.47 percent.
