Employment patterns by occupation, 1983-87

Although Hispanic men and women have had some
degree of occupational upgrading during the decade, they
are still somewhat more likely than the overall work force
to be employed in lower skilled, lower paid occupations.
As expected, most of the increase in the employment of
Hispanic women occurred in mid-level occupations where
Hispanic women are predominantly employed—techni-
cal, sales, and administrative support—and the generally
lower paid service occupations, which together account
for three-fifths of the employment of Hispanic women.
Another 22 percent of the gain was in higher paid jobs—
as managers and professionals—who accounted for only
15 percent of Hispanic women’s employment. (See table
4.) In contrast, almost half of the increase in the
employment of non-Hispanic women was accounted for
by managerial and professional positions, where one
fourth of non-Hispanic women are employed. Jobs for
both groups of women continue to be concentrated in the
technical, sales, and administrative support category.

The occupational improvement among Hispanic men
was not as marked. Job growth for Hispanic men was
concentrated in occupations requiring intermediate
skills—operators, fabricators, and laborers—which ac-
counted for nearly a third of their employment. In
contrast, job growth for non-Hispanic men—like that for
women—was concentrated in managerial and profes-
sional positions, which accounted for more than one
fourth of their employment.

Reflecting their concentration in occupations requiring
lower levels of training and formal education, Hispanic
wage and salary workers employed full time typically
earned less than their non-Hispanic counterparts. Hispanic
workers averaged $284 a week in 1987, about three-fourths
the earnings of all full-time wage and salary workers. [_]

Table 3. Unemployment levels and rates by Hispanic
origin and sex, 16 years and over, annual averages,
1980-87
Total Men Women
Year
Non- Non ic | _, Nom
Hispanic | wissanic | Hispanic | Hispanic | Mi8PAiC | Hispanic
Unemployment levels (in thousands)
620 | 7,017 | 370 | 3897 | 249
67s | 7595 | 408 | 4.169 | 269
929 | g749 | 565 | 5614 | 364
961 | 9,756 | 591 | 5,669 | 369
soo | 7,739 | 480 | 4,264 | 320
aii | 7/501 | 483 | 4038 | 327
57 | 7380 | 520 | 4010 | 337
751_| 6674 | 451 | 3650 | 300
Unemployment rates
10.1 7.0 97 68 10.7 72
10.4 74 10.2 72 10.8 78
13.8 94 13.6 96 144 92
13:7 93 13.6 97 13.8 89
10.7 73 105 72 WA 7.4
10.5 7.0 10.2 68 11.0 72
10.6 67 10.5 66 108 68
88 6.0 87 6.0 89 60
— FOOTNOTES.

| Hispanics refers to all persons who identify themselves as of Mexican,
Puerto Rican (living on the mainland), Cuban, Central or South
American, or of other Hispanic origin or descent. Non-Hispanics is a
residual category referring to persons of all other origins or descents.

The Current Population Survey (cps) is a monthly sample survey of
about 125,000 persons in some 60,000 households representing the U.S.
working-age population (16 years and over). (Beginning in April 1988,
the size of the cps sample was cut back to 55,800 households.)
Conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the Bureau of the
Census, the CPs provides information on the Nation's labor force,
employment, and unemployment by economic and demographic charac-
teristics. Beginning in January 1986, the Census Bureau introduced
major changes into the independent population estimates used in the
weighting procedure for the cPs. The new weights compensate for

Table 4. Occupational employment by Hispanic origin and sex, annual averages, 1983-87
Hispanic Non-Hispanic
Occupation Parcent Share of Percent Percent Share of
distibation, | total gowth, | change, distribution, | total growth,
1987 1983-87 1983-87 1987 1983-87
Men, 16 years and older 100.0 100.0 25.0 100.0 100.0 83
Managerial and professional specialty... 120 13.8 30.0 25.9 318 10.3
Technical, sales, and administrative support ” 15.7 21.4 37.5 20.3 25.1 10.4
‘Service occupations .. 13.9 10.5 17.0 9.2 67 5.9
Precision production, craft, and repair. 20.5 179 21.0 19.9 21.0 87
Operators, fabricators, and laborers 29.1 25.4 211 20.2 21.2 87
Farming, forestry, and fishing .. 89 11.0 33.2 44 -59 -9.2
Women, 16 years and older . 100.0 100.0 33.7 100.0 100.0 13.2
Managerial and professional specialty... 147 22.2 61.2 25.0 445 26.2
Technical, sales, and administrative support. 39.9 34.0 274 45.5 40.9 11.7
6 occupations .. 23.3 26.4 40.1 17.8 10.9 77
Precision production, craft, and repair 37 27 223 22 24 146
Operators, fabricators, and laborers 169 144 275 a4 24 29
Farming, forestry, and fishing 15 4 23 14 =7 -74

13



MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW August 1988

e Hispanics in the U.S. Work Force

Table 2. Change in civilian noninstitutional population and employment by Hispanic origin and sex, 16 years and over, annual
averages, 1980-87
Change in population Change in employment
Hispanic Non-Hispanic Hispanic Non-Hispanic
ver Level Level Level Level
in Percent (in Percent (in Percent (in Percent
thousands) thousands) thousands) thousands)
Total
1980 10 1987. ..oscceseesssseeeecenee 3,269 341 11,739 74 2,263 40.9 10,874 11.6
1980-1981 522 54 1,863 1.2 206 52 808 9
1981-1982 460 45 1,681 11 -8 -1 -863 -9
1982-1983 449 42 a 267 46 1,044 141
1983-1984 449 44 14 579 95 3,592 38
1984-1985 437 3.8 8 237 3.6 1,908 19
1985-1986 429 3.6 12 331 48 2,116 24
1986-1987 523 42 1.0 571 7.9 2272 22
Men
1980 to 1987 1,682 35.9 5,819 78 1,265 36.7 3,656 68
1980-1981 . 279 6.0 834 1 149 43 62 1
1981-1982 . 235 47 777 10 ~14 =4 -1,112 -24
1982-1983 . 229 44 779 1.0 188 5.2 928 6
1983-1984 . 229 42 845 1 312 83 1,992 38
1984-1985 . 224 40 640 8 162 40 638 1.2
1985-1986 . 221 3.8 1,108 1.4 183 43 818 15
1986-1987 . 265 43 836 1.0 285 64 930 16
1980 to 1987 1,587 32.3 5,918 7A 998 48.0 7,219 18.0
1980-1981 . 242 49 1,028 1.2 137 66 746 19
1981-1982 . 226 44 904 14 6 3 250 6
1982-1983 . 220 41 716 8 79 3.6 712 17
1983-1984 . 219 39 875 1.0 267 11.6 1,601 38
1984-1985 213 37 745 a) 74 29 1,270 29
1985-1986 . 209 35 844 1.0 149 56 1,298 29
1986-1987 . 258 44 806 x) 286 10.2 1,342 29

tial for older workers may result from the tendency of
non-Hispanics to retire younger.

Employment-population Percent of the
ratio of men, 1987 population
Non- Non-
Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic
16 years and
older.......... 74.0 113 100.0 100.0
39.9 46.7 10.5 8.3
78.9 76.5 15.5 10.2
36.5 89.9 49.1 42.4
older....... 60.5 54.9 24.9 39.2
Unemployment

Because much of the sharp rise in Hispanic employ-
ment since 1983 was accompanied by an increase in the
labor force, the decline in the level and rate of unemploy-

12

ment among Hispanics was in line with that of the rest of
the work force over the 1983-87 economic expansion.
(See table 3.) Thus, at 8.8 percent in 1987, the Hispanic
unemployment rate remained about 1} times higher than
that of the remainder of the population, a ratio that has
been remarkably constant throughout the decade. How-
ever, the Hispanic rate was below that of black workers,
who continue to have the highest jobless rate of any race
or ethnic group.”

Reasons for the high rates among Hispanics include
their relatively low levels of educational attainment; the
large numbers who have immigrated to the United States
in recent years, and thus their greater likelihood of being
labor market entrants;° and their concentrations in job
categories which are especially vulnerable to business
cycle downturns.'' Among the individual Hispanic ethnic
groups, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans had the highest
jobless rates in 1987—about 10 percent—while the
Cuban rate was about 5 percent.



MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW August 1988 @

underestimates of illegal immigrants and legal emigrants, and substan-
tially raised the population and employment estimates of Hispanics.
Major series (for example, numbers in the population and labor force by
sex and age) were revised back to 1980, while more detailed data (for
example, employment by occupation) are available in revised form only
back to 1986.

For an overview of the recent changes and their effect on the CPS, see
Jeffrey Passel, “Changes in the Estimation Procedure in the Current
Population Survey Beginning in January 1986,” Employment and
Earnings, February 1986, pp. 7-10. For additional detail on procedures
and findings concerning estimates of legal and illegal immigration and
emigration, see Robert Warren and Jeffrey Passel, “A Count of the
Uncountable: Estimates of Undocumented Aliens Counted in the 1980
United States Census,” Demography, August 1987, pp. 375-94; and
Karen Woodrow, Jeffrey Passel, and Robert Warren, “Recent Immigra-
tion to the United States— Legal and Undocumented: Analysis of Data
from the June 1986 Current Population Survey,” paper presented at the
1987 annual meetings of the Population Association of America,
Chicago, 1t, Apr. 29—May 2. For an overview of earlier changes in the
crs weights, see Philip Rones, “Revisions in Hispanic population and
labor force data,” Monthly Labor Review, March 1985, pp. 43-44.

*Data by country of origin for 1980 were derived from the 1980
census; 1987 figures are annual averages from the CPs.

*See Howard N Fullerton, Jr., “Labor force projections: 1986 to
2000," Monthly Labor Review, September 1987, pp. 19-29.

“See Susan E. Shank, “Women and the labor market: the link grows
stronger,” Monthly Labor Review, March 1988, pp. 3-8; Daniel T.
Lichter and Janice A. Costanzo, “How do demographic changes affect
the labor force participation of women?” Monthly Labor Review,
November 1987, pp. 23-25; and Howard Hayghe, “Rise in mothers’
labor force activity includes those with young children,” Monthly Labor
Review, February 1986, pp. 43-45.

‘For a critical overview of this perspective, see Vilma Ortiz and
Rosemary Santana Cooney, “Sex-Role Attitudes and Labor Force
Participation among Young Hispanic Females and Non-Hispanic White
Females,” Social Science Quarterly, June 1984, pp. 392-400.

“Ibid.

"For a similar finding using the 1976 Survey of Income and
Education, see George J. Borjas and Marta Tienda, Hispanics in the U.S.
Economy (Orlando, FL, Academic Press, 1985), p. 8. For additional
perspectives on the labor force participation of women, see Marta Tienda
and Jennifer Glass, “Household Structure and Labor Force Participa-

14

Hispanics in the U.S. Work Force

tion of Black, Hispanic and White Mothers,” Demography, August
1985, pp. 381-94; Shelley A. Smith and Marta Tienda, “The Doubly
Disadvantaged: Women of Color in the U.S. Labor Force,” in Ann
Stromberg and Shirley Harkess, eds., Working Women, 2d ed. (Palo
Alto, ca, Mayfield Publishing Co., 1987); Edna Acosta-Belen, The
Puerto Rican Woman: Perspectives on Culture, History and Society (New
York, Praeger, 1986); and Borjas and Tienda, Hispanics in the U.S.
Economy, chs. 7 and 8.

*For an overview of the employment status of married men (the vast
majority of all men in the labor force), see Howard Hayghe and Steven
Haugen, “A profile of husbands in today’s labor market,” Monthly
Labor Review, October 1987, pp. 12-17.

cps data on persons of Hispanic origin are tabulated separately
without regard to race, which means they are also included in the data
for white and black workers.

' Research has shown that the extent of unemployment among recent
immigrants to the United States drops sharply over time, and about a
decade after their arrival their unemployment rates are very similar to
those of native-born workers. See Ellen Sehgal, “Foreign born in the
USS. labor market: the results of a special survey,” Monthly Labor
Review, July 1985, pp. 18-24.

"As occurred in the 1980's, the Hispanic unemployment rate rose and
fell more sharply during the 1970's than that of non-Hispanics. For an
analysis of trends in Hispanic unemployment between 1973 and 1984,
see Gregory DeFreitas, “A Time-Series Analysis of Hispanic Unemploy-
ment,” Journal of Human Resources, Winter 1986, pp. 24-43.

'? This analysis of Hispanic occupational employment is limited to the
1983-87 period because of a major revision of the 1980 census
occupational classification system which was implemented in the 1983
cps. See Gloria Peterson Green and others, “Revisions in the Current
Population Survey Beginning in January 1983,” Employment and
Earnings, February 1983, pp. 7-15.

Estimates of occupational employment before 1986 were not revised
to reflect the changes in weights introduced into the cPs. (See footnote
1.) The analysis presented here uses the original 1983 percent distribu-
tions of Hispanic men and women across the major occupational
categories. To obtain levels of occupational employment consistent with
the revised 1983 data on total employment of Hispanics by sex, the
percentages in each occupation were multiplied by the revised totals.
The underlying assumption was that if the revised estimation procedures
for Hispanic employment levels were to be applied to occupational
characteristics, the percentage distributions would not be significantly
affected.



The growing presence
in the U.S. work force

Between 1980 and 1987, the number
of Hispanic workers rose dramatically,
accounting for almost a fifth

of the Nation’s employment growth;

of Hispanics

the increase for Hispanic women was especially sharp

PETER CATTAN

One of the outstanding features of the employment
expansion during the 1980's has been the rapid growth of
Hispanics in the U.S. labor market. This growth has been
fueled by a large inflow of Hispanics from Mexico,
Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Civil
wars, economic problems, and poverty in some of these
areas have induced large numbers of workers to migrate
to the United States in search of jobs and better
opportunities. Combined with the number of Hispanics
currently living here, the continuing large inflow has
made them the Nation’s fastest growing labor force
group. Thus, while the non-Hispanic work force rose by
10.4 percent between 1980 and 1987, the number of
Hispanic workers increased by 39 percent, reaching 8.5
million in 1987.

In recent years, procedures have been developed which
are designed to improve Hispanic population estimates
from the Current Population Survey (cps), the main
source of the data in this report. This article is based on
these revised data.'

Although Hispanics made up slightly under 7 percent
of total employment, they accounted for almost a fifth of
the total increase in the Nation’s jobs between 1980 and

Peter Cattan is an economist in the Division of Labor Force Statistics,
Bureau of Labor Statistics.

1987. In all, Hispanic employment increased by 2.3
million during the period covered. (See table 1.) Mexican-
Americans—by far the largest group of Hispanics— were
also the fastest-growing group; their employment total
rose by nearly 50 percent over the 1980-87 period, as
shown in the following tabulation. *

Change, 1980-87

Number in thousands 1980 1987 Number Percent
Total, Hispanic origin... 5,457-7,790 2,333, 43
Mexican... 3,175 4,690 1,515 48
Puerto Rican . 60074414428
Cuban .... 409 «51810927
Other Hispanics . 1,273 1,838 565 44

The rate of Hispanic employment growth has been
particularly impressive following the onset of the current
expansion. Since 1983, Hispanic employment has in-
creased by 28 percent, almost three times the rate for
other workers. This resulted from the surge in the
Hispanic population noted earlier. To a lesser extent, the
sharper pace of Hispanic employment growth also re-
sulted from somewhat greater increases in the percentage
of this population that is employed—the employment-
population ratio. As shown in the following tabulation,
the ratio for Hispanics rose in spurts—by about 5}
percentage points between 1983 and 1987, compared with
31 points for non-Hispanics. Also, the ratio had declined

9



MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW August 1988 e

more sharply for Hispanics than for non-Hispanics
between 1980 and 1982, a period punctuated by two
recessions.

Employment-population ratios

Year Hispanic Non-Hispanic Difference
1980 . 57.6 59.3 -17
1981 . 57.4 59.1 -17
1982 . 54.9 58.0 “31
1983 ... 55.1 58.1 -3.0
1984. 57.9 59.6 -17
1985 . 578 60.3 -2.5
1986 58.5 60.9 -2.4
1987 60.5 61.6 <1

For both groups, much of the post-recession increase in
employment-population ratios restored recession-induced
declines. However, despite the greater increase in the ratio
for Hispanics since 1983, the proportion of those who are

Hispanics in the U.S. Work Force

employed continues to be below that for other workers.

The dramatic increase in Hispanic employment is
expected to continue for many years. According to BLS
projections, the Hispanic civilian labor force will grow by
74 percent between 1986 and the end of the century,
outdistancing other labor force subgroups. Projections
indicate that by the year 2000, Hispanics will make up 10
percent of the Nation’s labor force, up from 7 percent in
1986. This is expected to occur because of continued
sharp population growth as well as increases in the
percent of Hispanics in the work force.?

Employment growth by sex

Women. The continued sharp growth in employment
among all women in this country has been well docu-
mented.‘ Hispanic women have shown the most rapid
gains. Paced by sharp population growth, their employ-
ment levels have shown an increase of almost 50 percent
since 1980, about 2} times the rate for other women. (See

qeble 1. Civilian noninstitutional population and employment by Hispanic origin, age, and sex, annual averages and change,
1980-87
(Numbers in thousands)
Hispanic ‘Non-Hispanic
Population, employment, age, and sex Change, 1980-87 Change, 1980-87
1980 1987 1980 1987
Level Percent Level Percent
Population
Total, 16 years and older 9,598 12,867 | 3,269 344 158,148 | 169,885 | 11,739 74
16 to 19 1,281 1,982 51 40 15,262 | 13,274 | -1,988 | -13.0
201024 1,564 1,910 348 22.4 19,072 | 17,061 | -2,011 | -105
2510.44 4,083 6,178 | 2,095 51.3 8,052 | 69,873 | 11,821 | 20.4
45 and older 2,670 3,448 778 29.1 85,763 | 69,678 3,915 60
Men, 16 years and older. 4,689 6371 | 1,682 35.9 74,709 | 80,528 5,819 78
16 to 19. 653 671 18 28 607 6,664 -943 | -124
2010 24. 792 985 193 24.4 9,231 8210 | -1,021 | -11.1
251044. 2,005 3,130 | 1,125 56.1 28,228 | 34,126 5,898 | 209
45 and older . 1,238 1,586 348 28.1 29,644 | 31,528 1,884 6.4
Women, 16 years and older . 4,909 6.496 | 1,587 323 83,439 | 89,357 5,918 7A
16 to 19. 628 661 33 5.3 7,655 6610 | -1,045 | -13.7
20 to 24. TMm 925 154 20.0 9,841 8,851 ~990 | -10.1
2510.44. 2,078 3,048 970 46.7 29,824 | 35,747 5,923 | 19.9
45 and older . 1,492 1,862 430 30.0 36,119 | 38,150 2,031 56
Employment
Total, 16 years and older . 5,527 7,790 | 2,263 40.9 93,776 | 104651 | 10874 | 11.6
16 to 19 500 474 -26 ~5.2 7.211 6167 | -1,045 | ~145
20to 24 998 1,273 275 27.6 13,089 | 12,251 -838 | -6.4
251044 2,749 4444 | 1,605 61.7 43,976 | 55,639 | 11,863 | 27.0
45 and old 1,280 1,599 319 24.9 29,500 | 30,393 893 3.0
Men, 16 years and older. 93,448 4,713 | 1,265 36.7 53,738 | 57,804 3,656 68
16 to 19. 306 268 -38 | -12.4 3,779 3,113 ~666 | -176
2010 24 611 777 166 272 6,921 6,281 -640 | -9.2
25 to 44 1,727 2,708 981 56.8 25,460 | 30,677 5217 | 205
45 and older 803 959 156 19.4 17,579 | 17,323 -256 | -15
Women, 16 years and older .. 2,079 3,077 998 48.0 40,038 | 47,257 7.219 | 18.0
16 to 19 193 206 13 3,492 3,054 -378 | -11.0
20 to 24 387 496 109 6,168 5,970 -198 | -3.2
25 to 44 1,022 1,736 714 69.9 18,516 | 25,162 6646 | 35.9
45 and older 478 640 162 33.9 11,921 | 13,070 1,149 9.6

10



table 2.) In addition, the proportion of Hispanic women
who were employed has increased faster than that of non-
Hispanic women since 1983. As indicated in the following
tabulation, employment-population ratios for Hispanic
women rebounded from a low of 41 percent in 1983, rising
to more than 47 percent in 1987. Hispanic women have
historically been less likely to be employed than other
women, and their employment-population ratio is still
relatively low.
Employment-population ratios of women

Year Hispanic Non-Hispanic Difference
1980 42.4 48.0 5.6
1981 43.0 48.3 -33
1982 413 48.1 ~6.8
1983 41.1 48.5 -1.4
1984 .. 44.2 49.8 ~5.6
1985 43.8 50.9 -71
1986 44.7 51.9 -712
1987 474 52.9 -55

Some analysts emphasize cultural differences in sex-
role attitudes to explain why Hispanic women have
traditionally had lower likelihoods of employment.’ In an
empirical examination of this view, Vilma Ortiz and
Rosemary Santana Cooney find that differences in educa-
tional attainments are more important determinants of
ethnic differences in labor force participation than tradi-
tional attitudes toward women’s role in the labor force.‘
Data from the March 1987 cps confirm that ethnic
differences in educational attainment need to be taken

into account. As the following tabulation shows, Hispanic .

women 25 years and older are much less likely than other
women to complete high school—a major determinant of
employability. Indeed, among women with similar levels
of schooling, Hispanics are more likely to work than their
counterparts.’

Percent of the population
Hispanic Non-Hispanic
Total .....0.cceeceeeeereeer eee 100 100
Less than 4 years of high
school 50 23
4 years of high school 30 42
1 year or more of college . 20 35

Employment-population ratio

Non-
Hispanic Hispanic Difference

Less than 4 years of high

school 30.5 24.7 5.8
4 years of 58.9 53.4 5.5
1 year or more of

College... cesecececeseeeeeeeee 16 66.7 49

Men. Although the rate of job growth for Hispanic men
during the 1980's was somewhat less than that of
Hispanic women, it was sharply higher than that of non-
Hispanic men. Even during the 1981-83 period when the
employment of non-Hispanic men declined, employment
of Hispanic men rose moderately, solely on the strength of
population growth.

As the following tabulation shows, the trends in
employment-population ratios between 1980 and 1987
have been similar for both Hispanic and non-Hispanic
men. The percentages employed declined during the
recessionary period of the early 1980’s, but ratios for both
groups continued to rise during the subsequent 5 years, as
the upturn in the business cycle provided increased
employment opportunities. To a lesser extent, demo-
graphics also may have been a factor behind the increase
in proportions working. For example, during the past 5
years, a portion of the baby boom generation entered age
categories with higher rates of labor force participation.

Employment-population ratios of men

Non-
Year Hispanic Hispanic Difference
1980 73.5 ng 1.6
1981 72.4 712 12
1982 68.9 69.0 =A
1983 69.4 68.8 6
1984, TA 70.6 1.5
1985 721 70.8 13
1986 72.5 70.9 16
1987 74.0 13 27

The rise in the employment-population ratios of all
working-age men during the most recent expansionary
period occurred during a long-term decline. For more
than 30 years, their employment-population ratio has
been declining slowly but steadily, primarily because of
earlier retirement among older men. In 1987, the ratio
was 10 percentage points below those which prevailed in
the late 1940’s.® Thus, the recent rise in the ratios for men
only represents a return to 1980 rates and not a reversal of
the secular trend.

The employment-population ratio for Hispanic men in
1987 was 74 percent, almost 3 points higher than for non-
Hispanic men. As shown below, this is due, in part, to the
fact that two-thirds of all working-age Hispanic men are
20 to 44 years old and are thus more concentrated than
non-Hispanics in the age categories where labor force
participation is at its highest.

The ratios for Hispanic men were higher than those of
non-Hispanic men for two age groups: 20- to 24-year-olds
and those age 45 and older. The ethnic differential for the
younger age group may be due to the higher likelihood of
enrollment of non-Hispanics in college, while the differen-

11