From the Latin@ Heritage Month 2012 Fact Sheet:
LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES:
Did you know that Latinos are the nation’s largest minority group? Latinos/as make up 16.7% of the overall United States population.
Latinos Value Education:
- 77% of all Latinos ages 18-24 have a high school diploma or GED.
- Latino college enrollment has reached a new high of 16.5%
- Latino student enrollment throughout all levels of schooling has risen dramatically in 2011. Overall, Latino students now make up nearly one-quarter (23.9%) of the nation’s public school enrollment.
- By the year 2036, Latinos are projected to compose
- one-third of the nation’s children ages 3 to 17.
The Latino vote:
- In the 2010 congressional election the percentage of Latino voters was 7%.
- Sixty percent (60%) of Latinos supported the Democratic Party while 38% supported the Republican Party.
- In 2010, Latino voters indicated that education followed by jobs and health care are the issues that most impact how they vote.
- In 112th congress, there are 2 Latinos serving in the Senate and 26 in the House. There are 2 Latino governors in the US.
Latinos and work:
- Latinos are predicted to account for 3/4th of the growth in the nation’s labor force from 2010 to 2020.
- 67.8% of Latinos, 16 years and older, were in the civilian labor force in 2010.
- The number of Latino-owned businesses has increased 46.3% since 2002, reaching 2.3 million businesses in 2007.
Serving our country:
- 1.2 million Latinos 18 and older are veterans of the US armed forces.
Read more about Latin@s in the U.S. here.
