The Latino population in the United States grew by 3.2 million from the beginning of the pandemic to mid-2023, accounting for 91% of the country's overall population increase during this period, according to a new analysis of Census Bureau data by William Frey, a of the Brookings Institution.
Frey, a demographer, attributed the growth to three main factors:
"The post-2020 period has been impacted by a pandemic, a decline and then an uptick in immigration, and shifts in both births and deaths—all of which has affected overall population gains and losses"
The analysis by Fray also showed that White population declined by 2.1 million people in the aforementioned time span, mainly due to a higher number of deaths than births, a consequence of an aging demographic with fewer women of childbearing age and lower fertility rates compared to other groups.
Fray's projections indicate that by 2030 nonwhite groups will make up 44% of the US population, with Latino residents comprising one-fifth of the total. By 2050, one-quarter of the population will be Hispanic, and more than half will belong to nonwhite groups. What's more, youth population, which is already "minority white," will be comprised of 53% minorities in 2030 and 60% minorities in 2050, with the Latino shares of youth rising from 27 percent to 31 percent.
"As a result, the future of the nation's labor force productivity and economic well-being will rely heavily on the success and integration of today's and tomorrow's increasingly multiracial younger population", predicted Fray based on his findings.
To conclude, Frey emphasized that these trends are crucial for the nation's future and should therefore be accompanied by coherent policies:
"Although the term "diversity" has become a politically divisive one in conversations about policies ranging from affirmative action to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, the changing demographics evident in these census statistics underscore the need to make education, employment, and related opportunities available to young populations of all racial and ethnic groups."
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