Changing workplaces. Changing lives.

Asian-Americans

Quick Takes

Published: March 2010

Download (Free)

Labor Force
  • In 2009:
    • Number of Asian-Americans in the labor force: 7,156,0001
    • Percentage of labor force: 4.6%1
    • Percentage of Asian-Americans who participated in the labor force: 66.0%1
    • Number of Asian-Americans employed in management, professional, and related occupations: 3,240,000 (6.2% of all people employed in management, professional, and related occupations)2
  • In 1998:
    • Number of Asian-Americans in the labor force: 6,278,0003
    • Percentage of labor force: 4.6% of labor force3
  • Projections for 2018:
    • Number of Asian-Americans in the labor force: 9,345,0003
    • Percentage of labor force: 5.6%3
    • Increase of Asian-Americans in the labor force between 1998 and 2018: 48.9%3
  • In 2006, Asian-American women held 0.4% of Fortune 100 board seats, and Asian-American men held 1.2%.4
Educational Achievement*
  • Number of Asian-Americans getting bachelor's degrees in 2006-07: 105,297 (6.9% of those getting bachelor's).5
  • Number of Asian-Americans getting master's degrees in 2006-07: 36,134 (6.0% of those getting master's).5
  • Number of Asian-Americans getting doctoral degrees in 2006-07: 3,541 (5.8% of those getting PhD's).5
Income
  • Among full-time wage and salary workers in 2008, Asian-American women's median weekly earnings were $753, compared to $966 for Asian-American men.6

Buying Power
  • Asian-American buying power has increased from $116.5 billion in 1990 to $508.6 billion in 2009 and is projected to climb to $696.5 billion in 2014. The percentage change in Asian-Americans' buying power between 1990 and 2014 is 497.9%, the second highest of all race/ethnic groups. Asian-Americans' share of the consumer market was 5.3% in 2009.7

*Asian/Pacific Islander

SOURCES

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2009 Current Population Survey, "Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by detailed age, sex, and race, Annual Average 2009" (2010).

2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2009 Current Population Survey," Employed and experienced unemployed persons by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, Annual Average 2009" (2010).

3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, "Table 3.4 Civilian labor force by age, sex, race, and ethnicity, 1988, 1998, 2008, and projected 2018" (2009).

4 The Alliance for Board Diversity, Women and Minorities on Fortune 100 Boards (2008).

5 National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics: 2008 (2009).

6 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2008 (July 2009). 

7 Jeffrey M. Humphreys, "The multicultural economy 2009," Selig Center for Economic Growth, University of Georgia, Georgia Business and Economic Conditions, vol. 69, no. 3 (Third Quarter 2009).

 

UPDATED March 1, 2010

Quick Takes