LATINOS IN THE WORKFORCE

Construction Workers: Situations, Problems, and Struggles

Minimum Wage and Common jobsBryan Estevez

Cindy Erroa

FATALITY RATE

Fatality rate was 30% higher than overall workforce in 2006

This is because Latinos take more dangerous jobs, specifically construction

They do not receive correct safety training or appropriate equipment.

FATALITY RATE (CONT.)

In 2009 the number dropped, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it went down from 5.3 per 100,000 to 3.7 per 100,000.

The 30% decline in number of fatalities was great.

Compared to the 3.3 per 100,000 of the entire workforce it was great.

WHY DID THE NUMBER DECLINE?

The reason was not just less fatal injuries, it was also less workers in dangerous jobs.

Their hours were cut, and many undocumented workers moved to less dangerous jobs.

Another factor was the economy and crackdown on immigration forced undocumented workers back home.

FATALITY RATE(CONT.)

Center for popular democracy found that 60% of 136 related fatalities in New York State were Latinos or immigrants

In New York City the number increases to 74% Latinos are the minority in construction jobs, making

up only 35% of the total.

FATALITY CAUSES The fatalities and injuries come mostly from sites run by

nonunion employers. Workers feel discouraged and do not report safety violations.

Latinos are more likely to work at these sites. By law it is stated that contractors and construction company

owners to provide all necessary equipment to keep workers safe, and be held fully liable if safety measures are not up to par and it results in an injury or death of a worker.

WHAT CAME ALONG WITH SANDY

Eudes, 42 years old and a native of Puebla, said the employers were nicer and more considerate after sandy.

This was strange because most of the places Latino were helping with construction were places of high anti immigrant opinion.

The workers became essential according to advocates and even homeowners.

Many were helping and working on rebuilding houses without knowing where they would be housed.

WHAT CAME ALONG WITH SANDY (CONT.)

Many immigrants were scared to seek assistance out of fear of deportation.

Director of Workers Justice Ligia Guallpa said 156 registered workers at the center generated nearly $45,000 in wages at 71 jobs including 58 Sandy related projects.

When she asked about how the men feel of recruiting women they were all in agreement and it gave the women access to high paying jobs in construction.

$$$MEDIAN INCOME $$$• According to the U.S Census Bureau, there are 8 states that contain an estimate

of over 1 million Latinos, One of those states included is New York. A graph made by The U.S Census Bureau, shows the record of the average household income of

Latinos compared to the other races within the country in 2012, and so according to the graph:

-Latino households made at least $39,000 while Asian households made at least $68,000, Whites made at least $58,000 and African Americans made at least $35,000.

Surprisingly, African American households made $4,000 lower than Hispanics. This is explained by the U.S

Census Bureau, which stated that: “Blacks are underrepresented because race cannot be used as a criterion and there are few all-Black high schools as Latinos have colonized many formerly Black areas”.

$$$MEDIAN INCOME CONTINUED$$$:

*U.S Census Bureau

$$$MEDIAN INCOME CONTINUED$$$: Both age and education status affect average income. Most Latinos begin working at the ages 16-18, and many end around their 60’s. According in to Metrotrends article on Latino Immigrants, if a Latin@ is 18yrs old -60yrs

old and doesn’t have a high school diploma or GED, he/she will make at least $28,000- $57,000 compared to other Latin@s at the same age, who actually have a High diploma or GED (but no College degree) who make at least $33,000- $65,000.

-Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher make at least $57,000- $117,000. Maria Echautegui, Senior Research Associate in the Income and Benefits Policy Center,

stated that “Latino immigrants make 7% less than their native workers.” and that Latinos’ earnings are “20% -21% less than their native counterparts”.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services, state that according to the U.S Census Bureau that 62% Latin@s have a High school diploma and 13% have a bachelor’s degree or higher; while Whites have 90% in high school diplomas and 40% in bachelor’s degree or higher.

$$$MEDIAN INCOME CONTINUED$$$:Without HS Diploma or GED

With HS Diploma or GED, but no College degree

With a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

Echautegui,2012-Metrotrends*

COMMON JOBS TAKEN BY UNDOCUMENTED/DOCUMENTED LATIN@S The U.S Department of Health and Human Services, state that according to the U.S

Census Bureau taken in 2010 that “ 67.4% Latin@s work in services occupations” while: -Whites at 14.9% and African Americans at 19.7% It also stated that 19% of Latin@s work in professional occupations in comparison

to Whites at 40% and African Americans at 18%. According to Lydia King “ the most Common jobs that undocumented people ( not

just Latin@s) take are constriction, agriculture, and Hospitality. Dan Woog states that in, his article, the most common jobs taken up by

documented Latin@s, who have bachelor’s degrees of higher, take are Business and Finance, Engineering, Government, Healthcare, Law and Criminal Justice, Media, and Real Estate.*

Common job taken by undocumented Latin@s

Construction

Agriculture

Hospitality

Common jobs taken by documented Latin@s (with bachelor’s or higher)

Business and Finance Engineering Government

Healthcare Law and Criminal Justice

MediaReal Estate

SOURCES http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hhmcensus1.html http://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2014/04/what-does-becoming-a-minority-mean-for-

the-social-status-of-whites/ http://metrotrends.org/commentary/LatinoImmigrants.cfm http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=54 http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/professional-networking/hispanic-latino-

professional-associations/article.aspx http://www.ehow.com/info_8327937_types-jobs-new-immigrants.html http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/8/29/the-road-back-fromsandy.html http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/24/latinos-make-up-

majorityofdeathfromfallingatconstructionsitesinn.html http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/are-working-conditions-really-getting-less-

dangerous-for-hispanic-laborers/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0