One-third of San Francisco households headed by an immigrant

San Francisco has always been an immigrant gateway and even though the share of the foreign-born population, as well as the overall population, has declined, the city still remains one of the most popular places for new immigrants. About 238,000 immigrants now live in San Francisco, accounting for 35 percent of the overall population. Most of them, about three quarters, have arrived since 1980 and about 22 percent arrived in the last decade.

According to statistical data, 34 percent of households are headed by an immigrant. More than 50 percent of the children have at least one immigrant parent and one in 14 children is an immigrant. San Francisco is the only region where Mexicans do not account for the largest share of immigrants. Chinese immigrants make up the largest group of foreign-born residents at 28 percent, while Filipinos and Mexicans each account for 9 percent.

In terms of employment, about 27 percent of immigrants work in professional services, 20 percent in retail, and 10 percent in business and repair services. About 11 percent are self-employed. San Francisco has approximately 40 organizations that offer immigrant-related services.

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