Issued September 2016 Centro DS2015US-07 Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island, the United States, and Puerto Rico, 2013 In 2013 an estimated 36,217 Puerto Ricans lived in Rhode Island and accounted for at least 1 percent of all Puerto Ricans living in the United States. The number of Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island grew from 25,422 in the year 2000 to 36,217 in 2013, a 42 percent rate of growth. Findings from an examination of Census data for 2013, the latest year for which detailed data was available, reveal that: The unemployment rate among Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island s labor force was 24.2 percent, higher than among all stateside Puerto Ricans (14.6%) and of those in Puerto Rico (18%). The labor force participation rate of Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island was 53.9 percent, eight percentage points lower than among stateside Puerto Ricans (61.2%) and ten percentage points higher than those in Puerto Rico (44.7%). The median household income for Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island was $18,682, about half the stateside Puerto Rican median household income ($37,951) and one thousand dollars lower than Puerto Rican median household income in Puerto Rico ($19,942). From an economic perspective, Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island accounted for $371 million in purchasing power, representing less than one percent of the $89.7 billion in purchasing power generated by stateside Puerto Ricans in 2013. Nearly, two in five (39.2%) Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island age 25 years and older had less than a high school degree, a rate much higher than that among all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (23.7%), and higher than that of Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico (27.6%). At least 16 percent of Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island worked in the higher wage management, business, sciences, and arts occupational sector. This rate was lower than among all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (27.2%) and in Puerto Rico (31.9%). The median age of Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island was 22.6 years, lower than for all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (28.7 years) and those in Puerto Rico (37.5 years). Nearly three-fourths (73.1%) of Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island reported speaking a language other than English in their home, higher than the nationally reported rate for Puerto Ricans (62.5%). Only 26.9 percent reported speaking English only in their homes, a rate below that of stateside Puerto Ricans (37.5%). Puerto Rican families in Rhode Island had higher average poverty rates, with more than half (51.3%) reporting living at or below the poverty rate, compared to 23.5 percent among all Puerto Rican families in the U.S. and 41.7 percent among those in Puerto Rico. The rate of Puerto Rican households in Rhode Island receiving public assistance income (13%) was nearly double than that of all Puerto Rican households in the United States (7.2%) and more than double those in Puerto Rico (6.3%). The rate of Puerto Rican households receiving food stamp/snap benefits was 61 percent, higher than 31.6 percent among all Puerto Rican households in the U.S. and 38.6 percent among those in Puerto Rico.
Overall, Rhode Island s Puerto Rican population grew from 25,422 in 2000 to 36,217 in 2013. The Puerto Rican population was the second largest Hispanic group in Rhode Island, representing 26 percent of the total Hispanic population. In 2013, Hispanic population made up 13.2 percent of Rhode Island s total population compared to 8.7 percent in 2000. Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island were relatively younger than Puerto Ricans in the U.S. as a whole, with a median age of 22.6 years, lower than the national median for Puerto Ricans of 28.7 years of age, and more than ten years lower than the median age among Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico (37.5 years). The proportion of Puerto Ricans aged 62 years and older in Rhode Island was 4.5 percent, also lower than for Puerto Ricans across the United States (9.3%) and less than a third of those in Puerto Rico (19.5%). English proficiency indicators for Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island were lower than for stateside Puerto Ricans overall. More than one in five (22.4%) Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island reported speaking English less than very well compared to 17.6 percent of stateside Puerto Ricans. Nearly three-fourths of Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island (73.1%) reported speaking Graph 1.A: Latino Population 2013, Rhode Island Other 3.1% Mexican South American 11.0% 7.1% Puerto Rican Central American 22.8% 26.0% 28.7% Cuban 1.1% Dominican Republic Table 1. Puerto Rican and Latino Population in Rhode Island 2000 2010 2013 Total 1,048,319 100% 1,053,846 100% 1,050,722 100% Not Hispanic or Latino 957,499 91.3% 925,909 87.9% 911,667 86.8% Hispanic or Latino 90,820 8.7% 127,937 12.1% 139,055 13.2% Mexican 5,881 0.6% 10,380 1.0% 9,878 0.9% Puerto Rican 25,422 2.4% 32,360 3.1% 36,217 3.4% Cuban 1,128 0.1% 2,221 0.2% 1,580 0.2% Dominican Republic 17,894 1.7% 38,116 3.6% 39,949 3.8% Central American 11,320 1.1% 25,690 2.4% 31,727 3.0% Guatemalan 8,949 0.9% 19,976 1.9% 25,918 2.5% South American 8,666 0.8% 13,757 1.3% 15,325 1.5% Colombian 5,706 0.5% 8,155 0.8% 8,075 0.8% Other 20,509 2.0% 5,413 0.5% 4,379 0.4% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 1, 2010 Census. Summary File 1, and 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. 2
a language other than English in the home, a rate more than ten percentage points higher than among all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (62.5%). Only 26.9 percent of Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island reported speaking only English compared to all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (37.5%). Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island had less schooling than Puerto Ricans throughout the U.S. or in Puerto Rico. Rhode Island Puerto Ricans (39.2%) had a higher proportion without a high school degree than stateside Puerto Ricans (23.7%) and Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico (27.6%). In terms of higher education, Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island had lower rates of those who earned a bachelor s degree or higher (10.2%) compared to 16.9 percent of all stateside Puerto Ricans and 23.6 percent of those in Puerto Rico. A breakdown of the education demographics by sex indicates both Puerto Rican Graph 2.A: Puerto Rican Education Attainment, 25 years and over Bachelor s degree or higher Some college or associate s degree High school graduate (includes equivalency) Less than high school diploma 10.2% 22.4% 28.2% 39.2% 16.9% 29.6% 29.8% 23.7% 23.6% 21.7% 27.1% 27.6% RHODE ISLAND UNITED STATES PUERTO RICO Table 2. Age, Education, and Language Puerto Ricans 2013 Rhode Island United States Puerto Rico* TOTAL POPULATION 36,217 5,004,309 3,497,393 Median age (years) 22.6 28.7 37.5 62 years and over 4.5% 9.3% 19.5% EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population 25 years and over Less than high school diploma 39.2% 23.7% 27.6% High school graduate (includes equivalency) 28.2% 29.8% 27.1% Some college or associate s degree 22.4% 29.6% 21.7% Bachelor s degree or higher 10.2% 16.9% 23.6% Male, bachelor s degree or higher 10.5% 15.0% 19.0% Female, bachelor s degree or higher 10.0% 18.7% 27.5% LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME AND ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH Population 5 years and over English only 26.9% 37.5% 5.2% Language other than English 73.1% 62.5% 94.8% Speak English less than very well 22.4% 17.6% 79.6% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. * Puerto Ricans only. 3
males (10.5%) and females (10%) had a lower proportion who had earned a bachelor s degree or higher, than stateside Puerto Ricans (15% for males and 18.7% for females, respectively) and Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico (19% for males and 27.5% for females, respectively). Puerto Rican participation in Rhode Island s civilian labor force (53.9%) was lower than among Puerto Ricans in the entire U.S. (61.2%) but higher than in Puerto Rico (44.7%). The unemployment rate among Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island was 24.2 percent, nearly ten percentage points higher than the stateside Puerto Rican unemployment rate (14.6%) and in Puerto Rico (18%). Only 15.9 percent of Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island worked in the higher wage management, business, science, and arts occupations compared to 27.2 percent of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. and 31.9 percent in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican women (18.7%) in Rhode Island were more present than men (12.7%) in the higher wage management, business, science, and arts sector. Nationally, Puerto Rican men and women in the U.S. showed even higher rates (31.9% for women and 22.7% for men, respectively) than Rhode Island s Puerto Rican men and women in these occupations. The average earnings of full-time, year-round Puerto Rican men and women in Rhode Island was $43,350 and $37,076, respectively, compared to the national level of $50,813 and $42,823 for Puerto Rican men and women, respectively. Puerto Rican men in Rhode Island earned at least six thousand dollars more than women. However, Puerto Rican men in Rhode Island earned almost seven thousand dollars less than at the nation- Table 3. Employment and Occupations 2013 4 Puerto Ricans Rhode Island United States Puerto Rico* EMPLOYMENT STATUS Population 16 years and over In labor force 54.2% 62.1% 44.8% Civilian labor force 53.9% 61.2% 44.7% Employed 40.8% 52.3% 36.7% Unemployed 24.2% 14.6% 18.0% Not in labor force 45.8% 37.9% 55.2% Armed Forces 0.40% 0.80% 0.0% OCCUPATION Civilian employed population 16 years and over 9,507 1,870,468 1,019,014 Male 4,422 952,301 535,746 Management, business, science, and arts 12.7% 22.7% 24.6% Service occupations 26.6% 22.6% 22.0% Sales and office occupations 23.4% 20.6% 20.3% Construction and maintenance 10.1% 13.7% 17.6% Production, transportation, and moving 27.3% 20.5% 15.5% Female 5,085 918,167 483,268 Management, business, science, and arts 18.7% 31.9% 40.0% Service occupations 33.7% 23.8% 17.5% Sales and office occupations 37.5% 37.2% 36.4% Construction and maintenance 0.5% 0.6% 0.7% Production, transportation, and moving 9.5% 6.4% 5.4% CLASS OF WORKER Civilian employed population 16 years and over Private wage and salary workers 90.5% 80.9% 67.2% Government workers 7.5% 15.7% 24.3% Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business 2.0% 3.2% 8.4% VETERAN STATUS Civilian population 18 years and over Civilian veteran 2.2% 6.6% 3.7% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. * Puerto Ricans only.
Puerto Rican Population by Counties in Rhode Island In comparison to other states in the United States, Rhode Island is the smallest in terms of size. It is also a state with a small number of counties. The state is subdivided into four counties: Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, and Washington. Puerto Ricans were not evenly distributed throughout the state. Rather, most of the Puerto Rican population was largely concentrated in Rhode Island s northeast region, particularly in Providence County. At least, 88 percent of the Puerto Rican population resided in Providence County. Kent and Newport Counties each accounted for about 4 percent of Rhode Island s Puerto Rican population, and neighboring Washington (3%) and Bristol (1%) counties accounted for another 4 percent. Latino settlement in Rhode Island closely mirrored that of Puerto Ricans. Latinos were heavily concentrated in the northeast region of the state with lighter settlement in Washington and Bristol counties. COUNTY Puerto Rican Population Percent Latino Population Percent Total Population Percent Providence County 32,310 88% 125,144 89% 629,280 60% Kent County 1,561 4% 6,174 4% 165,253 16% Newport County 1,520 4% 3,984 3% 82,772 8% Washington County 969 3% 3,449 2% 126,609 12% Bristol County 337 1% 1,081 1% 49,338 5% Total 36,697 100% 139,832 99% 1,053,252 101% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Notes: Total counts for populations may differ depending on whether the estimates are derived from the 1-year estimates or the 5-year estimates of the American Community Survey. Total percentages do not add up to 100 due to rounding. 5
PUERTO RICAN POPULATION BY COUNTIES IN RHODE ISLAND PUERTO RICAN POPULATION 1 dot = 50 06-14 PUERTO RICAN ARRIVALS 1 dot = 50 BOUNDARIES County City/Towns Census Tracts CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Republican Democrat 6
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PUERTO RICAN POPULATION BY COUNTIES IN RHODE ISLAND PUERTO RICAN POPULATION 1 dot = 50 06-14 PUERTO RICAN ARRIVALS 1 dot = 50 BOUNDARIES County City/Towns Census Tracts CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Republican Democrat 8
al level. Puerto Rican women in Rhode Island earned about five thousand dollars less than at the national level. Compared to Puerto Rico, where average fulltime, year-round Puerto Rican earnings were $32,625 and $29,030 for men and women, respectively, Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island and the U.S. as a whole earned more on average. Household and family incomes are important indicators of economic well-being. These indicators were much lower for Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island than for stateside Puerto Ricans and those in Puerto Rico. The median income was $18,682 for Puerto Rican households in Rhode Island, half that of all stateside Puerto Rican households ($37,951) and actually lower than the median income of Puerto Rican households in Puerto Rico ($19,242). Per capita income among Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island was lower ($10,267) than among all stateside Puerto Ricans ($17,932) and those in Puerto Rico ($10,864). Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island had $371 million purchasing power. From an economic perspective, Rhode Island Puerto Ricans represented less than 1 percent of the $89.7 billion total purchasing power of the entire Puerto Rican community in the year 2013. Purchasing power is defined simply as per capita income multiplied by the Puerto Rican population. Stateside Puerto Ricans had more than double the total purchasing power of Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico of $37.9 billion. More than half of Puerto Rican families in Rhode Island (51.3%) lived in poverty. This is nearly 30 percentage points higher than among all Puerto Ricans families in Table 4. Income and Earnings 2013 Puerto Ricans Rhode Island United States Puerto Rico* INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2013 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) Households 11,007 1,545,037 1,190,241 Median household income (dollars) $18,682 $37,951 $19,242 With earnings 57.9% 76.0% 57.1% Mean earnings (dollars) $37,790 $59,153 $35,643 With Social Security income 18.7% 23.2% 42.4% Mean Social Security income (dollars) $9,382 $13,319 $11,808 With Supplemental Security Income 33.4% 13.1% 0.5% Mean Supplemental Security Income (dollars) $9,422 $8,718 $8,704 With cash public assistance income 13.0% 7.2% 6.3% Mean cash public assistance income (dollars) $3,905 $3,776 $2,193 With retirement income 5.5% 10.2% 15.0% Mean retirement income (dollars) $9,854 $19,833 $15,276 With Food Stamp/SNAP benefits 61.0% 31.6% 38.6% Families 7,371 1,056,661 852,606 Median family income (dollars) $20,781 $43,182 $22,668 Married-couple family 31.3% 52.7% 57.2% Median income (dollars) $45,966 $65,731 $30,058 Male householder, no spouse present 10.0% 9.5% 8.8% Median income (dollars) $16,062 $35,317 $16,895 Female householder, no husband present 58.6% 37.8% 33.9% Median income (dollars) $14,039 $23,728 $14,022 Individuals 36,217 5,004,309 3,497,393 Per capita income (dollars) $10,267 $17,932 $10,864 Mean earnings (dollars) for full-time, year-round workers: Male $43,350 $50,813 $32,625 Female $37,076 $42,823 $29,030 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. * Puerto Ricans only. 9
the U.S. (23.5%) and 10 percentage points higher than those in Puerto Rico (41.7%). As seen in other states and in Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican households with a female householder, no husband, and children under 18 years of age had the highest rates of poverty. In Rhode Island, 70.8 percent of these households reported living in poverty, compared to 49.8 percent across the U.S. and 69.2 percent in Puerto Rico. Regardless of context, these poverty rates are alarmingly high. Public assistance participation rates for Puerto Rican families in Rhode Island (13%) was almost two times higher than the national level (7.2%) and in Puerto Rico (6.3%). Three in five (61%) Puerto Rican families reported receiving food stamp/ SNAP (Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program), almost twice as many as Puerto Rican families in the nation (31.6%) and in Puerto Rico (38.6%). The rate of homeownership among Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island was substantially lower (13.4%) than for Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (37%) or Puerto Rico (70%). Housing is a primary determinant of the cost of living. The median value of owner-occupied housing for Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island was $169,000, lower than the median value of owner-occupied housing for all stateside Puerto Ricans ($173,900), but higher than in Puerto Rico ($121,000). Graph 4.A: Mean Earnings for Full-Time Year-Round Puerto Rican Workers $60,000 $50,000 $40,000 Male $43,350 Female $37,076 $50,813 $42,823 $32,625 $29,030 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 0 RHODE ISLAND UNITED STATES PUERTO RICO Graph 4.B: Puerto Rican Purchasing Power, in Billions, 2013 PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND $371.8 million $37.9 $89.7 UNITED STATES 10
Graph 5.A: Poverty Rates Rhode Island United States Puerto Rico 59.9% 65.3% 58.4% 70.8% 69.2% 51.3% 51.8% 49.8% 41.7% 42.4% 31.3% 23.5% All families All families with related childrend under 18 years Female householder no husband present Female householder with related children under 18 years Table 5. Poverty 2013 Puerto Ricans Rhode Island United States Puerto Rico* POVERTY RATES All families 51.3% 23.5% 41.7% With related children under 18 years 59.9% 31.3% 51.8% With related children under 5 years only 44.1% 29.7% 52.6% Married-couple family 20.4% 9.7% 30.0% With related children under 18 years 22.0% 12.4% 33.6% With related children under 5 years only N** 10.7% 32.6% Female householder, no husband present, family 65.3% 42.4% 58.4% With related children under 18 years 70.8% 49.8% 69.2% With related children under 5 years only 58.8% 51.2% 72.2% All people 51.4% 27.0% 45.5% Under 18 years 57.9% 34.7% 57.0% Related children under 18 years 57.7% 34.4% 56.9% Related children under 5 years 59.1% 37.1% 61.8% Related children 5 to 17 years 57.0% 33.3% 55.3% 18 years and over 47.0% 23.2% 42.0% 18 to 64 years 47.4% 23.4% 42.4% 65 years and over 41.8% 22.3% 40.2% People in families 49.4% 24.6% 43.7% Unrelated individuals 15 years and over 60.6% 38.8% 56.6% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. * Puerto Ricans only. ** An N entry in the estimate and margin of error columns indicates that data for this geographic area cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small. 11
Puerto Ricans in the state are generally making less money and least likely to be employed in higher wage occupations than at the national level. The median monthly owner cost associated with a mortgage was $1,689 for Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island, higher than the $1,609 for those in the U.S., and $884 for those in Puerto Rico. As a result, more than half (53.3%) of Puerto Ricans in Rhode Island who owned a home paid more than 30 percent of their income in monthly owner costs. This rate was higher than for Puerto Ricans at the national (43.9%) level and in Puerto Rico (47.5%). Table 6. Housing and Health Insurance 2013 Puerto Ricans HOUSING Rhode Island United States Puerto Rico* Owner-occupied housing units 13.4% 37% 70.0% Monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income in the past 12 months Less than 30 percent 46.7% 56.1% 52.5% 30 percent or more 53.3% 43.9% 47.5% Owner-occupied housing units Median value (dollars) $169,000 $173,900 $121,000 Median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage (dollars) HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE Civilian noninstitutionalized population $1,689 $1,609 $884 With private health insurance 32.6% 49.9% 40.3% With public coverage 62.7% 42.2% 59.3% No health insurance coverage 10.9% 14.1% 6.5% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. * Puerto Ricans only. The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Centro) is the nation s leading university-based institution devoted to the interdisciplinary study of the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. Centro is dedicated to understanding, preserving and sharing the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. Centro invites Centro Voices contributors to make use of the extensive archival, bibliographic and research material preserved in its Library and Archives. The Centro Library and Archives is devoted to collecting, preserving and providing access to resources documenting the history and culture of Puerto Ricans. The Centro Library and Archives was established in 1973 as a component of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies. The collections include books, current and historic newspapers and periodicals, audio, film & video, manuscripts, photographs, art prints, and recorded music. The Library and Archives provides services and programs to the scholarly community as well as the general public. Constituents are diverse and come from the United States and abroad. The Library and Archives facilitates access to information on its holdings through the City University s online public catalog or CUNY+. It also provides research and information assistance via phone and email. Centro Library and Archives Silberman Building, 2180 Third Avenue at 119th Street, Room 121, New York, N.Y. 10035 Library: 212-396-7874 Archives: 212-396-7877 centropr.hunter.cuny Follow us @centropr Hunter College, The City University of New York 695 Park Avenue, E1429, New York, N.Y. 10065 VoiceMail: 212-772-5688 Fax: 212-650-3673 Center for Puerto Rican Studies Hunter College, CUNY 695 Park Avenue New York, NY 212-772-5688, centropr.hunter.cuny.edu