Latino Caucus Releases Statistical Analysis Report on Latinos in California

Sacramento, CA – The California Latino Legislative Caucus today released a report entitled A Statistical Picture of Latinos in California which analyzed key demographic, employment and social data concerning the Latino community.

Among the major findings, the report found:

v  The Latino population is growing at a faster rate than the state’s general population. Latinos will make up nearly half of all Californians by 2050.

v  Latinos are more likely to have no health insurance or, if they had insurance, they were more likely to be covered by a publicly funded health coverage program such as Medi-Cal.

v  22 percent of Latinos were uninsured compared to 15 percent of all Californians. 

v  Latinos tend to earn less than Californians as a whole and are underrepresented in higher income brackets.

v  Latino poverty rates are higher than the poverty rates of the general population and they receive public assistance at slightly higher rates than Californians as a whole.

v  There exists a substantial achievement gap for Latino students in the state’s K-12 public school system. 

v  Paradoxically, Latinos are both more likely to be employed due to their higher numbers in the labor force, but at the same time they have slightly higher unemployment rates than the general public.

v  Latinos are less likely than the state’s general population to own their own home.

v  The Latino population tends to be younger than the state’s general population, though this gap will close over the next few decades.

The California Senate Office of Research prepared the report on behalf of the Latino Legislative Caucus. Click here for the full report.

“This report confirms what we already suspected,” said Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “While Latinos have taken great strides in California, there is still so much work left to do to help improve the quality of life for the state’s fastest growing population. We have a shared responsibility to pursue an agenda that will improve access to jobs, education and quality health care. Improved economic prosperity and access to opportunity not only helps California’s growing Latino population, it helps the state as a whole.”

The California Latino Legislative Caucus serves as a forum for members from the State Senate and Assembly to identify key issues affecting Latinos and develop avenues to empower the Latino Community throughout California. Following in the footsteps of generations of pioneering Latinos who settled and helped build this great state, Latino legislators united in 1973 to maximize their power notwithstanding their limited numbers. Since its creation 40 years ago, the Caucus has grown in both numbers and stature. It boasts a rich history of legislative and political success and serves as one of the most influential and strategic organizations in California.

Press Contacts: Jesse Melgar (562) 495-4766; Roger Salazar (916) 284-1255