Indian immigrants rank third in number among immigrant-owned businesses, behind those of Mexican and Korean origin, according to a report released by the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. But Indian immigrant business owners score the highest in terms of income generated.

The report, “Estimating the Contribution of Immigrant Business Owners to the U.S. Econo¬my,” estimates that approximately 11.6 percent of all business income in the United States is gen¬erated by immigrant-owned businesses. It also found that immigrants own 11.2 percent of businesses with $100,000 or more in sales and 10.8 percent of all businesses with employees.

The report shows that of the total of approx¬imately $67 billion income generated by immi¬grant owned business, owners of Indian descent generated nearly $5 billion, with each owner making an average of $83,023, the highest among all owners from any other country and higher than businesses owned by the U.S.-born.

Of the total 1,436,410 immigrant business owners, immigrants from Mexico own 255,300 businesses or 2.22 percent. Those of Korean descent number 90,280 or .78 percent. Those of Indian descent own 60,210 or .52 percent. They are followed by immigrant owners from China, Vietnam and Canada.

"This report is the first time that immigrant business ownership rates and immigrant-owned businesses contributions to the economy have been studied in detail," Chad Moutray, chief economist for the Office of Advocacy said. "These findings can make a significant contribution to public policy debates," he added.

The complete report, which analyzes data from the 2000 Census, can be found at http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs334tot.pdf.

The following were the major findings of the report:

* Immigrants represent 12.5 of all business owners and immigrants are 30 percent more likely to start a business than non-immigrants are.

* Immigrant business owners are concentrated in certain states, including California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Hawaii.

* Mexicans represent the largest number of immigrant business owners, while Greeks, Koreans, and Iranians have the highest ownership rates. "Although business owners from Mexico constitute the largest share of immigrant business owners, total immigrant business ownership, formation, and income originates with immigrant business owners from around the world,” the report clarifies.

* Immigrant business owners are generating $67 billion of the $577 billion in U.S. business income, as estimated from 2000 U.S. Census data. They generate nearly one-quarter of all business income in California – nearly $20 billion – and nearly one-fifth of business income in New York, Florida, and New Jersey.

* Nearly 30 percent of all business owners in California are immigrants, compared with about 12.5 percent of the population of U.S. business owners.

* Twenty-five percent of business owners in New York and more than 20 percent in New Jersey, Florida, and Hawaii are foreign-born.

* In California, immigrants are 34.2 percent of the new business owners each month. Nearly 30 percent of all new business owners per month in New York, Florida, and Texas are immigrants.

* Immigrants' contributions differ across sectors of the economy, the report says. They own a large share – more than one-fifth – of businesses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry. They also contribute significantly to other services, transportation, and wholesale and retail trade, according to the data presented in the report. Immigrants also own a large share of businesses in the lowest and highest skill sectors and in several industries.