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The Economic Impact of Latino Workers: A By-the-Numbers Breakdown for Tax Day

In order to support investments in education, infrastructure, health care, and many other areas that millions of Americans rely on, everybody must contribute financially through the tax system. Luckily for this country, Latinos are a tremendous asset thanks to their commitment to paying their fair share of taxes.
UnidosUS
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The largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.

The largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.
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Hispanic Americans are firm believers in the American dream: Hard work will earn you and your family a better life. Expected to make up much of the growth in the American workforce in the next four decades, Latinos are helping revitalize communities and strengthen local economies all throughout the nation. However, hard work is just one factor contributing to ensuring that the country remains prosperous. In order to support investments in education, infrastructure, health care, and many other areas that millions of Americans rely on, everybody must contribute financially through the tax system. Luckily for this country, Latinos are a tremendous asset thanks to their commitment to paying their fair share of taxes.

In honor of Tax Day, let's take a by-the-numbers look at the economic impact that Latinos have on the U.S. economy.

Participation in the labor force:

  • Nearly 16 percent of the U.S. labor force is Latino; that's about 25 million workers.

  • By 2050 Latinos' overall share of the U.S. workforce is expected to double to nearly 30 percent.

  • In 2014 Hispanic adults had the greatest workforce participation rate of any demographic, with more than 65 percent working or actively looking for a job.

  • Last February the Hispanic unemployment rate fell to 6 percent, finally returning to its pre-recession lows.

    • Entrepreneurship and purchasing power:

    • Despite slower growth during the recession, the number of Hispanic-owned business was projected to grow by nearly 40 percent between 2007 and 2013, to nearly 3.2 million businesses.

  • In 2013 sales receipts for Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States totaled almost $470 billion.

  • Because the Latino population is comparatively younger than other racial and ethnic groups, and because the number of Hispanics in the United States is quickly growing, Hispanic purchasing power is expected to grow to nearly $1.7 trillion by 2019.

    • Tax contributions:

    • In 2013 Hispanic households paid almost $124 billion in federal taxes, including individual and corporate income taxes, payroll taxes, and excise taxes, and almost $67 billion in state and local taxes.

  • States with large Hispanic populations have also benefited from their tax contributions. Hispanic households accounted for 23 percent of state and local tax payments in Texas, 20 percent in California, 18 percent in Florida, and 15 percent in Arizona.

  • Tax contributions from Hispanic households also play a critical role in funding Social Security and Medicare. In 2013 Hispanic households contributed about $98 billion to Social Security and $23 billion to Medicare through payroll taxes. Many economists believe that tax contributions from young Latino workers will be the key to keeping the Social Security system strong.

    • This piece was first posted to the NCLR Blog.

    UnidosUS - The largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.

    The largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.

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