New Look at Growth Of Latino Population
Complex group, diverse nationalities
Ramon G. McLeod, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, August 7, 1998
*1998 San Francisco Chronicle

The Latino population of the United States reached 29.7 million in 1997
and is growing at a rate that will make it the second-largest group in the
country in less than seven years, according to figures being released
today.

The report by the U.S. Census Bureau also shows that this fast-
growing population, whose numbers have increased 20 percent since
1990, is a complex group of diverse nationalities.

People of Mexican origin dominate the U.S. Latino population,
accounting for 18 million. Puerto Ricans, with 3.1 million, and Cubans, at
1.1 million, are the next-largest groups.

This is also a group whose socioeconomic profile and other statistical
characterizations are powerfully influenced by youth and immigration.
One-third of all Latinos are under 18 and about 45 percent were born
outside the country.

John Reed, a federal demographer and author of the study, said the
mix of youth and newcomers has helped produced socioeconomic
characteristics that seem contradictory at first glance.

For example, while Latino education levels are rising and their
employment rate is extremely strong, household income has dropped
since 1990 despite a good economy. ``This isn't so puzzling, because
while educational attainment for younger people is increasing, some of
this is offset by large numbers of immigrants coming into the country with
very low educations who take low-paying jobs,'' he said. ``And, while it's
true that educational levels are going up, Latinos still have a ways to go in
getting the college degrees that are a ticket to better jobs.''

The new report shows that the number of Latino college graduates
has been increasing rapidly, and by last year, roughly 9 percent of adults
over age 25 had a bachelor's or higher degree. That was a 20 percent
improvement from 1990. On the other hand, 24 percent of whites and 13
percent of blacks are college-educated.

One of the most striking characteristic of Latinos is their participation in
the work world. Some 80 percent of Latino men are in the U.S. labor
force, versus 75 percent for white men and 68 percent for black men.

``The commitment to work is there, but the rewards of a good economy
have not trickled down to this group,'' said Sonia Perez, director of
research for the National Council of La Raza, a Latino policy and research
organization in Washington, D.C.

``Latinos tend to be overrepresented in jobs that pay the least, have
fewest benefits and are vulnerable to changes in the economy,'' she said.
``Education levels are rising, and that's great, but those who are in the
work world are too often in jobs where there is no possibility of upward
mobility and have no benefits.'' The federal study showed that the median
household income for a Latino family was $26,806 in 1990 but only
$24,906 in 1996. It was $44,700 for whites in 1996, up $400 from 1990,
and $26,500 for blacks, up $800 in the same period.

*1998 San Francisco Chronicle Page A2

{Special thanks to Carmen Mendez for submitting this information}