Who’s Coming to America? Absolute vs. Relative Change in the Size of the Latino Professional Population

Hayward Derrick Horton, University at Albany, State University of New York
Edelmira Reynoso, University at Albany, State University of New York

Evidence from the census has documented the growth of the Latino population since the 1980s. However, one aspect of the growth of this population that has not been rigorously examined is the change in socioeconomic status. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the change in the size of the Latino professional population from 1980-2000. The following are the specific research questions to be asked: 1) How has the Latino professional population changed relative to the non-professional Latino population from 1980-2000? 2) Are there significant gender differences in the change in the Latino professional population over the two-decade period? 3) What role does country of origin play in the growth of Latino professionals? 4) Are these Latino professionals more likely than their non-professional counterparts to self-identify as white? and 5) What are the implications of the findings for both population theory and the future of the Latino community?