For this year's Haitian Heritage Month, I wanted to acknowledge the massive impact that Haitian immigrants have had on Boston's employment and economic landscape over the past several years.
Haitian immigrants have settled in Boston increasingly since the 1950s, with Haitians currently making up the 3rd largest foreign-born population in the area after the Dominican Republic and Mainland China. If you've ever been hospitalized or used social services in the Boston area, then you've probably been treated to the warm sound of a Haitian accent or met a second-generation Haitian American. Boston's healthcare, personal care, security, and service industries, in particular, wouldn't function without the contribution of our Bostonians of Haitian heritage.
In 2017, the City of Boston reported that Haitians made up 3.7% of Boston's population, holding around 12,219 jobs and owning about 455 businesses. Haitians not only contribute to Boston's vibrant businesses and strong workforce, they also contribute significantly to our economy. Haitians’ purchasing patterns supported an additional 1,674 jobs and contributed $256 million to Boston’s gross city product in 2018. (Gross city product measures the total economic output of both good and services of a metropolitan area).
This workforce and economic contribution extends beyond the Boston-metro area. Milton, in particular, has welcomed Haitian immigrants with open arms, as described in this Milton Times article from 2024. This has resulted in new businesses opened by Haitians, as well as more Haitians entering the workforce. Milton's food scene has certainly benefited, as evidenced by the number of Milton-area restaurants on this top-tier Boston-area Haitian food roundup from Eater Boston. Somerville, Brockton, and Randolph are also popular destinations for Haitian immigrants, adding to those city's labor force and business owners.
To check out some local coverage of other Boston businesses owned by Haitians and Haitian Americans, watch this 2024 feature from NBC10 Boston.
Also, take a look at the resources used to write this blog post:
- Boston by the Numbers 2020 - Boston Planning and Development Agency Research Division; September 2020.
- Haitians: A Prosperous Boston for All, opens a new window - City of Boston Planning Department; March 12, 2020.
- Global Boston: Haitians - Boston College Department of History; undated; accessed April 26, 2025.
- Imagine All the People: Haitians - Boston Redevelopment Authority; 2016.
For some titles from the Boston Public Library written by, for, or about Haitians or Haitian Americans in the workforce and in life, check this list out!
Books and resources for and about Haitian-Americans in the workforce.
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