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Hispanics and Latinos in industries and occupations

October 09, 2015

Since 1968 Americans have recognized September 15 to October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month. Each year, we celebrate the history and culture of Hispanic and Latino Americans and their contributions to society. In 2014, Hispanics and Latinos accounted for 16.1 percent of the 146.3 million employed people in the United States.  

Among major industries, 27.3 percent of workers in construction were of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity in 2014. Other industries with high concentrations of Hispanics and Latinos include agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (23.1 percent) and leisure and hospitality (22.3 percent). Hispanics had the lowest share of employment in public administration (11.4 percent), financial activities (11.3 percent), and information (10.5 percent).

 

Percentage of industry employment that is of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2014 annual averages
Industry sector Percent

Construction

27.3%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting

23.1

Leisure and hospitality

22.3

Other services

19.0

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

18.6

Transportation and utilities

17.2

Wholesale and retail trade

16.4

Total, all industries

16.1

Professional and business services

16.0

Manufacturing

15.8

Education and health services

11.5

Public administration

11.4

Financial activities

11.3

Information

10.5

Among occupational groups in 2014, 43.4 percent of workers in farming, fishing, and forestry were Hispanic or Latino. Other occupations with high shares of Hispanics or Latinos were building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (36.7 percent) and construction and extraction occupations (32.3 percent). Hispanics or Latinos were least likely to work in life, physical, and social science occupations (7.5 percent) and in computer and mathematical occupations (6.6 percent).  

 

Percentage of occupational employment that is of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2014 annual averages
Occupation Percent

Farming, fishing, and forestry

43.4%

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

36.7

Construction and extraction

32.3

Food preparation and serving related

24.9

Transportation and material moving

22.1

Production

21.9

Installation, maintenance, and repair

16.8

Personal care and service

16.6

Healthcare support

16.2

Total, all occupations

16.1

Office and administrative support

15.1

Sales and related

14.7

Protective service

14.4

Community and social service

11.6

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media

9.8

Education, training, and library

9.5

Management

9.1

Business and financial operations

8.4

Architecture and engineering

8.2

Legal

7.9

Healthcare practitioners and technical

7.7

Life, physical, and social science

7.5

Computer and mathematical

6.6

These data are from the Current Population Survey. For more information on people of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, see Race and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity Tables and Overview of BLS Demographic Data.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Hispanics and Latinos in industries and occupations at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2015/hispanics-and-latinos-in-industries-and-occupations.htm (visited March 28, 2024).

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