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Latinos/Latinas

Quick Takes

Published: April 2011

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Labor Force
  • In 2010:
    • Number of Latinos/Latinas in the labor force: 19,906,0001
    • Percentage of labor force: 14.3%2
    • Percentage of Latinos/Latinas who participated in the labor force: 59.4%3
    • Number of Latinos/Latinas employed in management, professional, and related occupations: 3,755,000 (7.3% of all people employed in management, professional, and related occupations)4
  • In 1998:
    • Number of Latinos/Latinas in the labor force: 14,317,0005
    • Percentage of labor force: 10.4%6
  • Projections for 2018:
    • Number of Latinos/Latinas in the labor force: 29,304,0007
    • Percentage of labor force: 17.6%8
    • Increase of Latinos/Latinas in the labor force between 1998 and 2018: 104.7%9
  • In 2006, Latinas held 1.0% of Fortune 100 board seats, and Latinos held 3.0%.10
Educational Achievement
  • Numbers getting bachelor’s degrees in 2008-2009: 129,526 (8.1% of all people getting bachelor’s).11
  • Numbers getting master’s degrees in 2008-2009: 39,439 (6.0% of all people getting master’s).12
  • Numbers getting doctoral degrees in 2008-2009: 2,540 (3.8% of all people getting PhD’s). 13
Income
  • Among full-time wage and salary workers in 2009, Latinas’ median weekly earnings were $509, compared to $569 for Latinos.14

Buying Power
  • Latinas/Latinos’ buying power has increased from $210.0 billion in 1990 to $1.0 trillion in 2010 and is projected to climb to $1.5 trillion in 2015. 16
  • The percentage change in Latinas/Latinos’ buying power between 1990 and 2015 is 605.3%.17
  • Latinas/Latinos’ share of the consumer market was 9.3% in 2010. 18

Note: Latinos/Latinas/Hispanics may be of any race.

SOURCES

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2010 Current Population Survey, "Employed and Experienced Unemployed Persons by Detailed Occupation, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity,"Annual Averages 2010 (2011).

2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2010 Current Population Survey, "Employed and Experienced Unemployed Persons by Detailed Occupation, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011).

3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2010 Current Population Survey, "Employed and Experienced Unemployed Persons by Detailed Occupation, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011).

4 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2010 Current Population Survey, "Employed and Experienced Unemployed Persons by Detailed Occupation, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011).

5 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).

6 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).

7 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).

8 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).

9 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).

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

11 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 297: Bachelor’s Degrees Conferred by Degree Granting Institutions, By Sex, Race/Ethnicity, and Field of Study, 2008-2009," Digest of Education Statistics: 2010 (2011).

12 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 300: Master’s Degrees Conferred by Degree Granting Institutions, By Sex, Race/Ethnicity, and Field of Study, 2008-2009," Digest of Education Statistics: 2010 (2011).

13 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 303: Doctor’s Degrees Conferred by Degree Granting Institutions, By Sex, Race/Ethnicity, and Field of Study, 2008-2009," Digest of Education Statistics: 2010 (2011).

14 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2009 (July 2010).

15 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2009 (July 2010).

16 Jeffrey M. Humphreys, The Multicultural Economy 2010, Selig Center for Economic Growth, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia (2010).

17 Jeffrey M. Humphreys, The Multicultural Economy 2010, Selig Center for Economic Growth, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia (2010).

18 Jeffrey M. Humphreys, The Multicultural Economy 2010, Selig Center for Economic Growth, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia (2010).

UPDATED April 15, 2011

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