LATINO/X STRENGTHS
Massachusetts would have lost representation in congress, federal funding, etc. if it weren’t for Latinos sustaining population growth.
Without Latinos, Boston’s population would still be near 1980 levels. Latinos accounted for 92% of Boston’s total population growth between 1980-2015.
Latinos represent 12% of the population in MA and are projected to reach 1.1 million by 2035.
Latinos are a major source for human capital.
22% of students in Massachusetts are Latino, and this bilingual and multicultural group will make up over 35% of the workforce by 2030.
43% of students in Boston Public School are Latino. Our population skews young with an average age of 28 compared to 41 for non-Latinos.
Every 30 seconds, a young Latino turns 18, becoming part of our electorate, our workforce, and our economy.
Latinos are a strong voting cohort with the power to swing elections.
The majority of Latinos in the state are native-born U.S. citizens, representing a significant portion of the electorate voting participation.
Latinos are often swing voters, receptive to the messages of both political parties.
Latino political power in Massachusetts is growing.
Representation of Latino lawmakers in the Massachusetts legislature more than doubled in 2022, with 16 Latino representatives, up from six in 2018.
Latinos are job creators.
There are over 30,000 Latino-owned businesses in Massachusetts that generate over $4.2 billion in annual revenue and create over 27,000 jobs.
Latino-owned businesses are becoming the fastest- growing segment of the U.S. small business ecosystem, in the past 10 years.
Latino-owned businesses have started at a faster rate than other groups—a 44% growth rate—compared to only 4% for non-Latino- owned firms.
LATINO/X CHALLENGES
While Massachusetts Latinos have experienced substantial economic progress over time, the reality is that far too many Latinos in our state still have a difficult time making ends meet.
Many newer Latino immigrants work in service jobs that serve as a backbone of our local economy and yet are among the lowest-paying jobs.
A disproportionate share of the more than 800,000 Latinos in Massachusetts today contend with food insecurity and have low rates of intergenerational economic mobility.
Many Latinos are stuck in lower-wage service and production jobs, which limits economic mobility.
The economic devastation caused by COVID-19 hit Latino communities especially hard. Latino workers were concentrated in frontline industries going into the pandemic, which meant they were more likely to be laid off than other workers in Massachusetts. Latino unemployment is higher at 5.9% compared to the average of 3.6% (as of 11/1/22).
Investing in robust job training programs (technical and work-based training, ESOL, training for building trades, etc.) can have an immediate ROI.
Latinos face disparities in healthcare access.
Latinos are 6X more likely to be uninsured at any time (in a 12-month period) than any other group. This is driven by immigration status and having less access to insurance through an employer and public health insurance options.
Latino political power in Massachusetts is growing.
Representation of Latino lawmakers in the Massachusetts legislature more than doubled in 2022, with 16 Latino representatives, up from six in 2018.
Latinos have very high rates of entrepreneurship and great potential to create jobs, but often do not have access to sufficient start-up or growth capital to succeed.
Latino-owned small businesses tend to be smaller than average, with constraints accessing capital as a major barrier to growth and a top concern for Latino entrepreneurs seeking to expand their businesses.
