Volume 1, Issue 1 – June 2004

A quarterly report on developments related to Latino* communities.

This quarterly digest is written primarily for the staff of UC Cooperative Extension. It is produced by the staff of ANR's Spanish Broadcast and Media Services based on news reported by mainstream news media and reputable research institutions. Inclusion in the digest does not imply endorsement, nor does SBMS assume responsibility for the veracity of the information. We invite our readers to refer to the source to read more of each particular brief; we'll try to always include a link.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Tripling of Hispanic, Asian Populations Projected
The nation’s Hispanic and Asian populations would triple over the next half century and non-Hispanic whites would represent about one-half of the total population by 2050, according to interim population projections released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Nearly 67 million people of Hispanic origin (who may be of any race) would be added to the nation’s population between 2000 and 2050. Their numbers are projected to grow from 35.6 million to 102.6 million, an increase of 188 percent. Their share of the nation’s population would nearly double, from 12.6 percent to 24.4 percent.

The country’s population is expected to become older. By 2030, about 1-in-5 people would be 65 or over. The female population is projected to continue to outnumber the male population.

CALIFORNIA: By 2025, non-Hispanic Whites would comprise 33.7 percent of California’s population, down from 52.6 percent in 1995. Persons of Hispanic origin is projected to increase to 43.1 percent of the 2025 state population

Source: US Census Bureau, March 2004, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html

Latinos find more jobs, study says

Employment rates showed a significant increase in working age Latinos in the last fourth quarter of 2003, adding almost twice as many jobs as non-Hispanic workers, according to a recent PEW Hispanic Center study.

The number of working Latinos, primarily foreign-born males, increased by 659,641 while non-Hispanics showed 371,066 more jobs from the preceding year. The study was based on figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau. The proportion of employed Latinos reached 63.3% in December. Unemployment in that group dropped to 6.6%.

The major source of jobs for Latinos in 2003 was in construction, business services, wholesale and retail sales, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining.

But the average week earnings for Latinos showed no improvement, the study noted. It was $507 in the last quarter of 2002 and $494 in 2003. That might explains another point made by the PEW study: Latino unemployment could begin to rise as the economy improves and more people compete for better paying jobs.

Source: PEW Hispanic Center, www.pewhispanic.org

Bay Area News Media Survey
(Latinos news media are projected to almost double between 2000 and 2030)

A large majority of Latinos use ethnic media regularly for news, and rate the ethnic media very important.

General media news complements ethnic media news for immigrants; it does not replace it. Even after immigrants begin to use general media for news, almost all continue to use ethnic media as well. Adding general media is related to the extent to which Latinos see themselves as Americans as well as to ability to speak English. More than half of Latinos are still using ethnic media in the 3rd generation. Use of ethnic media for news is very durable among immigrants. The sole reliance on ethnic media for news is a temporary condition for most immigrants.

Latino radio and television have greater reach than newspapers and magazines. Television and newspapers are regularly used for news by everyone: radio and internet are used by smaller groups.
More than 80% of Latino adults use ethnic media sources, almost all in Spanish.

Latinos who speak both Spanish and English show a strong tilt toward ethnic media use (29% ethnic media; 61% both media, and 10% general media).

More than ¾ of Latino-origin adult population in the Bay Area were born outside the US. More than 1/3 were born abroad and have lived in the US for less than 10 years.

More than 70% of Latinos immigrants use only ethnic media in their first 10 years in the US, declining to 50% among Latinos in the US for 10-25.9 years.

Latinos show high rates of ethnic media use (90-98%) up to 25 years in the US. It drops to 80% for immigrants who have lived in the US 25 years or more.

Ethnic media actually strengthen the public forum in ways that contribute to assimilation.

Ethnic media contribute different voices, different perspectives to the public forum.

Source: News Ghetos, Threats to Democracy and Other Myths About Ethnic Media, Public Research Institute, San Francisco State University, June 2003, http://pri.sfsu.edu/reports.html

High rate of deaths among Mexican workers

A nation-wide survey found that Mexican immigrant workers are fourth times more likely to die as a result of labor accidents than U.S. born workers.

The survey, conducted by the Associated Press was based on statistics from OSHA and the Center for Disease Control, rank California and Texas at the top states that report deaths among Mexican workers. Most deaths occur in Southern and Western states that have seen a major increase in Mexican immigration in recent years. Approximately 6 million Mexicans work in the U.S., according to the AP survey.

The number of deaths, which peaked at 420 in 2002, rose last year from 241 to 387 from the previous year.

The study, which interviewed workers, employers and government officials, cites lack of training and safety equipment as the main cause of death. Mexican workers were also found more likely to work in dangerous professions, like construction, agriculture, and mining, and to take jobs less attractive to U.S. born workers.

The study has prompted Mexican and U.S. officials to look for preventable measures.

Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20040319-0005-ca-dyingtowork-reax.html

 

Latino Briefs Digest was prepared by the staff of ANR’s Spanish Broadcast & Media Services: Myriam Grajales-Hall, Program Manager; Alberto Hauffen, Sr. Public Information Representative; Lita Charlot, Sr. Writer; Lisa Rawleigh, Administrative Assistant. Guest Editor, Jeannette Warnert, Public Information Representative/Web Content Coordinator. Send comments to: Myriam Grajales-Hall, myriam.grajales@ucr.edu, (909) 787-4397.