Almost all of New York City's street vendors are immigrants and only about a quarter of them posesses mobile food vendor permits, according to a recent study.
The Immigration Research Initiative (IRI) released a report on Tuesday shedding light on the experiences of New York City's street vendors, their earnings, demographics and daily struggles, according to a news release.
The report, based on a comprehensive survey conducted by the Urban Justice Center's Vendor Project in 2021 and analyzed by IRI, involved over 2,000 street traders from more than 150 NYC zip codes, speaking 15 languages and hailing from 60 countries.
New York City is home to approximately 23,000 street vendors, comprising 20,500 mobile food vendors and 2,400 general merchandise vendors. Despite their significant economic contribution, many vendors operate without proper permits due to the complex regulatory environment, making their precise numbers hard to track, the study found.
The report highlights that a substantial majority, 96%, of street vendors are immigrants, with vending often serving as a viable entrepreneurial path due to its relatively low startup costs. However, only about 25% of mobile food vendors possess permits, compared to 63% of general merchandise vendors who are licensed.
Navigating the complicated permit and licensing system remains a major challenge, particularly for non-veterans, the study said.
Vendors in the city come from a wide range of backgrounds, with Mexico, Ecuador, Egypt and Senegal being the most common countries of origin.
The report notes that the majority of food vendors are Hispanic or Latino, while merchandise vendors are predominantly Black or African American. Additionally, 63% of vendors lack access to restrooms, and 55% face language barriers, speaking little to no English.
Despite these obstacles, vending is a crucial source of income for many. The report found that most vendors have been in the business for several years, with 81% considering it their primary livelihood.
Earnings vary by season, with mobile food vendors making between $250 and $1,000 weekly, while merchandise vendors experience more fluctuation, particularly during the winter months.
