Rooted in the Valley: Immigrants in Napa County’s Communities and Economy

Immigrants have long been an important part of the workforce and local communities in California’s Napa Valley. Approximately 21 percent of Napa County’s residents and 29 percent of its workers in 2019-23 were immigrants, and nearly half of all children had at least one immigrant parent.

This report examines the characteristics of immigrants in Napa County, and how this profile has changed over time. It also looks at the county’s Latino residents (both immigrant and U.S. born) and its working-age population (ages 18–64). Among other topics, it describes these populations’ size, origins, family and workforce characteristics, English proficiency, and public benefits enrollment.

In a region renowned for its wineries, the study uses an economic impact model to estimate the value of all foreign-born workers’ contributions to the Napa County wine and hospitality industry, placing the value at $1.5 billion or 11 percent of county GDP. Using this model, the study also examines the contributions of unauthorized immigrant workers specifically, and by extension, what effects the departure of these workers could have on the local economy.