As Rhode Island Latino Labor Force Grows, More Education and Training is Needed to Help Workers Compete in Local Workforce

 PROVIDENCE, RI – The number of Latino workers in Rhode Island is expected to more than double by 2040 according to the infographic, “State of Working Rhode Island: The Latino Labor Force,” released today by the Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University. In the last decade, the Latino labor force has increased 38 percent (from 8.4 percent to 11.6 percent) – representing the largest growth among workers of color in the state.

Yet, even with the projected growth – in which Latinos will make up nearly a quarter of Rhode Island’s total workforce – Latino workers face major employment challenges including a scarcity of jobs, significant wage and income disparity and a lack of adequate education and skill to compete in today’s job market, all of which can have major implications for the state’s economy.

“It is critical to the success of our economy that we create opportunities for all Rhode Islanders to build job skills that matter so they can access the jobs that pay,” said Governor Gina Raimondo. “Today, we walk away with one poignant realization: we need to do better. We need to work harder to increase employment opportunities for all Rhode Islanders so they can support their families. When our workforce is diverse and inclusive, our economy will thrive.”

The data shows that the unemployment rate among Rhode Island Latinos is the highest in the nation at 16.2 percent in 2014, more than double the national rate of 7.4 percent. A loss in local manufacturing jobs – which decreased by 19 percent from 2007 to 2014 – has left many Latinos unemployed, underemployed or working part-time positions. Also adding to the scarcity of jobs is the state’s job deficit in which the state would need to create approximately 12,700 jobs to regain the positions lost during the recession and to meet the demands of this population growth.

“Latinos are the fastest growing demographic in the state and will continue to make up a larger piece of Rhode Island’s labor force. We often celebrate progress in our workforce climate; for example, unemployment rates continue to go down in Rhode Island. However, when we put a magnifying glass to communities of color, the unemployment rates and wage gaps are unacceptably high. We need to create a climate that not only meets the needs of businesses but also meets the needs of our workers to access higher wage jobs as well as gaining access to emerging industries that offer upward mobility,” said LPI Director Anna Cano Morales. “Our economy depends on our workforce. It’s critical that all workers and potential workers have the education, skillset and tools they need to compete.”

The Latino Policy Institute created the infographic with data from the Economic Progress Institute report, “The State of Working Rhode Island 2015: Workers of Color,” to shine a spotlight on Rhode Island Latino workers. The infographic shows Latino workers earn significantly less when comparing hourly wage rates and household income to other race and ethnic groups. In 2014, the median hourly wage for Latinos was $12.45 as compared to $19.99 for White workers. The median household income for Latinos was approximately half of the median White household income in 2014 – $30,797 for the Latino household and $61,406 for the White household. Just 12 percent of Rhode Island Latinos have a bachelor’s degree and 1 out of 3 Latino workers do not have a high school credential.

“What drives us most in designing and delivering programs to train workers with 21st century skills is lifting up all Rhode Islanders and helping to make Rhode Island a better, fairer and more prosperous state for everyone,” said Scott Jensen, Director of the Department of Labor and Training. “This infographic vividly shows the challenge that’s before us to help Latinos and other workers of color gain access to, compete in and succeed in our ever-changing economy. It challenges us to do better and that’s what we’ll do.”

LPI revealed the infographic today at an event held at the Rhode Island State House in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT), which gathered elected officials, members of Governor Raimondo’s Cabinet, local education, policy and community leaders.

About RWU: Roger Williams University, with its main campus located on the coast of Bristol, R.I., is a forward-thinking private university with 45 undergraduate majors spanning the liberal arts and the professions, where students become community-minded citizens through project-based, experiential learning. With small classes, direct access to faculty and boundless opportunity for real-world projects, RWU students develop the ability to think critically while simultaneously building the practical skills that today’s employers demand. In the three years since launching its signature Affordable Excellence initiative, the University has established itself as a leader in American higher education by confronting the most pressing issues facing students and families – increasing costs that limit access to college, rising debt and the job readiness of graduates. In addition to its 4,000 undergraduates, RWU is home to more than a dozen graduate programs, a thriving School of Continuing Studies based in Providence as well as Rhode Island’s only law school.

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