Does the concentration of recent Latino immigrants into "occupational linguistic niches"--occupations with large numbers of other Spanish speakers--restrict their wage growth? On the one hand, it is possible that Latino immigrants who are concentrated in jobs with large numbers of Spanish speakers may have less on-the-job exposure to English,…

Economic opportunity, the force that has driven population shifts for years, is changing the face of migration as Hispanics move into parts of the nation beyond border states and traditional ports of entry. North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Indiana are experiencing a steady growth in Hispanic population. In addition, West Virginia, Ohio, and…

This study offers a demographic profile of the U.S. Cuban population, using data from the decennial census and current population surveys. Part one estimates the number of Cuban Americans and describes their geographic distribution nationwide. Part two compares the socioeconomic characteristics (age, gender, educational attainment, income,…

Leading explanations for ethnic disparities in U.S. women's employment derive largely from research on men. Although recent case studies of newer immigrant groups suggest that these explanations may be less applicable than previously believed, no study to date has assessed this question systematically. Using 2000 Census data, this study tests the…

Analysis of data on the occupational prestige of women workers in Cuba or Mexico who immigrated to the United States showed that immigrant women do not fare so well as immigrant men in converting their resources into occupational prestige. Differences between Mexican and Cuban women, however, are larger than gender differences. (KH)

This report documents labor market trends among Hispanics since the end of 2000, a period of recession and slow recovery, comparing their experiences with those of non-Hispanics and detailing changes by industry, occupation, region, and other economic and demographic attributes. Data come from the Current Population Survey. Hispanic employment was…

This study examines how different Latino generations (immigrants and their U.S.-born offspring) perform in the labor market, highlighting the wages and employment of young adults. It is based on tabulations of Current Population Survey data collected monthly by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, with the years 1995 and 2000 as the starting and closing…

Although the number of hired farmworkers declined during 2001, their median weekly earnings increased 4 percent. Despite these gains, hired farmworkers are still one of the lowest paid groups and their family incomes did not increase. Nearly 46 percent of hired farmworkers were Hispanic, and more than half had not finished 12 years of school.…

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics indicate that Latinos lag behind non-Latinos in education and in other socioeconomic characteristics. Although there are some positive indications such as the decrease of individuals and children living in poverty and an increase in the number of individuals working…

This report examines the growing Latino population in Memphis and surrounding Shelby County (Tennessee), focusing on demography, Latino workers in the local economy, and a study of the needs and concerns of Hispanic immigrant women. The Hispanic population increased by 229 percent in Shelby County in the 1990s. In 2000, about half of the county's…

This digest presents an analysis of the workforce participation of Latinos, emphasizing findings by generation. It describes the demographics of native-born and immigrant Latinos and compares labor market outcomes for adult, young adult, and teen workers. The digest also explores the relationship between schooling and labor market participation,…

This brief analyzes the employment patterns and socioeconomic characteristics of Latinos. Nationally, Hispanics constitute 11.1 percent of the U.S. workforce. The number of Latino workers is expected to grow by 36.3 percent this decade. Working Latinos have persistently had high poverty and unemployment rates due to such factors as insufficient…

A research and policy agenda for addressing issues related to the Hispanic worker in the United States is provided in this report, which was prepared by the Ford Foundation's Task Force on Employment and Economic Well-Being. First, the theoretical basis of the Task Force's recommendations is outlined. This was based on the observation of three…

Over the past decade, the Hispanic population in Memphis (Tennessee) has grown from 8,116 to an estimated 53,628, drawn to the city by the availability of employment. The new Latino immigrants are younger, more skilled, and more highly educated than those who arrived in previous decades. Enrollment of Hispanic children in Memphis schools has grown…

This paper summarizes the results of a study of the impact of immigration on California, particularly in Los Angeles County. Of the 1.7 million foreign-born persons in Los Angeles County in 1980, 950,000 (or 57 percent) came to the United States after 1970. Mexican immigrants comprise almost one-half of the total of recent arrivals. They tend to…