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| The Hierarchy of Success Hispanics from different national origins have a wide range of social and economic backgrounds, some better prepared for the U.S. labor market, and others much less successful. Our best information about their backgrounds is from the Current Population Survey. To maximize the size of the sample on which they are based, our figures here are pooled estimates from the CPS conducted in March 1998 and 2000. Nativity and year of entry. Puerto Ricans are considered by definition born in the United States. The majority of Cubans are foreign-born (68%), though relatively few of those entered the country in the last ten years (27%). They mainly represent a pre-1990 immigration stream. In contrast, only about a third of Mexican Americans (36%) were born abroad, but nearly half of their foreign-born members are recent immigrants (49% in the previous ten years). The New Latino groups are like Cubans in having a majority of foreign-born, ranging from 63% for Dominicans to over 70% for Central and South Americans. But they are like Mexicans in that they represent the most recent wave of immigration - generally 45-50% of their foreign-born arrived in the last ten years. Education. Mexicans are the least educated of the older Hispanic groups, with an average education of only 10.2 years (for those aged 25 and above). Puerto Ricans average 11.4 years, and Cubans 11.9 years. The New Latino groups range both below the Mexicans and above the Cubans. Salvadorans and Guatemalans have the least education (below 10 years). But Hispanics from most South American origins are better educated than Cubans, averaging 12.6 years. Income. Compared to Puerto Ricans and Mexicans, Cubans in the United States have always been regarded as economically successful. The mean earnings of employed Cubans are above $13,500, compared to about $10,000 for Puerto Ricans and $8500 for Mexicans. Only 18% of Cubans fall below the poverty line, compared to 26% of Mexicans and 30% of Puerto Ricans. Among the New Latinos, Dominicans stand out for their very low income: mean earnings below $8000 and more than a third in poverty (36%). The major Central American groups are roughly equivalent to Puerto Ricans in average earnings, though they are less likely to fall below the poverty line. On the other hand, Hispanics from South America do considerably better, and on average they earn more and have lower poverty rates than do Cubans. Unemployment and public assistance. Levels of unemployment among Hispanic groups are generally consistent with their average earnings. New Latinos from the Dominican Republic have higher than average unemployment and they are the group most likely to receive public assistance (above 8%). In fact, in both these respects they are less successful than Puerto Ricans. Those from South America have the lowest levels of unemployment and are even less likely than Cubans to receive public assistance. Thus, a new and wider range of social and economic characteristics accompanies the growing diversity of national origins among Hispanics in the United States. It is becoming harder to view Hispanics as one group. As their growth and diversity continues, we must recognize that there are many Hispanic situations in America. |
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