Hispanics' unemployment rate soars
The recession hits hardest in industries and regions
where Hispanic workers are disproportionately
represented, a congressional report shows.
By Clement Tan, Los Angeles Times
May 6, 2010
Reporting from Washington
Unemployment among Hispanics in the U.S. has soared since the recession hit because those workers are
disproportionately employed in industries and regions hardest hit by the downturn, according to a
congressional report released Wednesday.
» Don't miss a thing. Get breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox.
Unemployment among Hispanics in the U.S. has soared since the recession hit because those workers are
disproportionately employed in industries and regions hardest hit by the downturn, according to a
congressional report released Wednesday.
Hispanic workers were more likely to be employed in the construction sector, which was pounded during
the housing collapse, particularly in states including California, Florida and Nevada, which experienced the
largest declines in housing prices and biggest increases in foreclosures.
"Not only were Hispanics a significant part of the industries hardest hit by the recession, but they have also
been underrepresented in education and health activities — sectors that have experienced growth during the
Great Recession," said Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), chairwoman of Congress' Joint Economic
Committee, which produced the report.
The study also shows that the recession derailed gains Hispanics had achieved relative to the overall labor
force.
In May 2006 when the U.S. economy was booming, the Hispanic unemployment rate, at 4.9%, was just
slightly above the overall national unemployment rate, according to the report. But by October 2009 the
Hispanic unemployment rate has surged to 13.1%, 3 percentage points higher than the overall rate.
Latinos account for about one-seventh of the U.S. labor force, but comprise nearly one-fifth of the
unemployed.
While the typical unemployment spell lasted 21.6 weeks in March 2010, Latinos actually experience
shorter periods of unemployment, at 18.9 weeks, than the overall labor force.
The report did not specify the immigration status of Hispanics. However, the latest figures from the
American Community Survey suggest 48% of Hispanics in the U.S. in 2007 were foreign born. The same
survey also indicated 24% of U.S. workers born in Mexico and 21% from Central American countries were
employed in construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations in 2007, compared with about
13% of workers born in South America.
Audrey Singer, a senior fellow with the Metropolitan Policy Program at Washington's Brookings
Institution, said these figures could indicate that "unauthorized Hispanic migrants are the segment most
likely to be adversely impacted" by the recession in the last three years. But she also said this group of
Hispanic workers also tend to be more mobile and gravitate toward places where there are jobs.
cltan@tribune.com
Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-latino-jobless-20100506,0,934755.story