Puerto Ricans in Georgia, the United States, and Puerto Rico, 2014

Issued September 2016 Centro DS2014GA-14 Puerto Ricans in Georgia, the United States, and Puerto Rico, 2014 In 2014, an estimated 89,462 Puerto Ricans lived in Georgia and accounted for 1.7 percent of all Puerto Ricans living in the United States. Georgia had the 13th largest Puerto Rican population in the United States. The number of Puerto Ricans in Georgia more than doubled from 35,532 in the year 2000 to 89,462 in 2014. Findings from an examination of recently released Census data for 2014 reveal that: The unemployment rate among Puerto Ricans in Georgia s labor force was 9.8 percent, lower than among all stateside Puerto Ricans (11.6%) and just over half of the unemployment rate of those in Puerto Rico (18.9%). The labor force participation rate of Puerto Ricans in Georgia was 63.4 percent, two-percentage points higher than among stateside Puerto Ricans (61.6%) and twenty percentage points higher than those in Puerto Rico (43.7%). Notably, the rate of Puerto Ricans actively serving in the Armed Forces, not measured in the civilian labor force, was more than four times higher in Georgia (3.7%) than the overall stateside Puerto Rican rate (0.8%). The median household income for Puerto Ricans in Georgia was $52,661, more than $10,000 above the stateside Puerto Rican median household income ($39,322) and more than double the Puerto Rican median household income in Puerto Rico ($18,710). From an economic perspective, Puerto Ricans in Georgia accounted for $1.8 billion in purchasing power, representing roughly two percent of the $97.2 billion in purchasing power generated by stateside Puerto Ricans in 2014. Almost a third (32.3%) of Puerto Ricans in Georgia age 25 years and older had earned a bachelor s degree, a rate nearly double that among all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (17.6%), and higher than that of Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico (24.1%). A third (33.6%) of Puerto Ricans in Georgia worked in the higher wage management, business, sciences, and arts occupational sector. This rate was higher than among all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (28.1%) and in Puerto Rico (31.3%). The median age of Puerto Ricans in Georgia was 27 years, below that of all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (28.9 years) and those in Puerto Rico (38.9 years). About half (51.9%) Puerto Ricans in Georgia reported speaking only English in their household, a rate higher than among all stateside Puerto Ricans (38.8%). Only 10.3 percent of Puerto Ricans in Georgia reported speaking English less than very well, a rate below that of all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (17.3%). Puerto Rican families in Georgia had below average poverty rates with only 12.2 percent reporting at or below the poverty rate, compared to 22.7 percent among all Puerto Rican families in the U.S. and 42.8 percent among those in Puerto Rico. The rate of Puerto Rican households in Georgia receiving public assistance income (2.7%) was less than half that of all Puerto Rican households in the United States (6.9%) and those in Puerto Rico (8.1%). The rate of Puerto Rican households receiving food stamp/ SNAP benefits was 17.3 percent lower than 31.5 percent among all Puerto Rican households in the U.S. and 39.7 percent among those in Puerto Rico. Overall, the Hispanic population proportion in Georgia has grown from 5.3 percent of the total population in 2000 to 9.1 percent in 2014. Similarly, Georgia s Puerto Rican population more than doubled in the past 14 years from 35,532

in 2000 to 89,462 in 2014. The Puerto Rican population account at least 9.7 percent of the total Hispanic population in 2014 compared to 8.2 percent in 2000. The median age of Puerto Ricans in Georgia was 27 years old, below the national median for Puerto Ricans of 28.9 years of age, and more than ten years lower than the median age among Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico (38.9 years). The proportion of Puerto Ricans aged 62 years and older in Georgia was 6.4 percent, lower than for Puerto Ricans across the United States (9.9%) and less than a third of those in Puerto Rico (21%). English fluency indicators for Puerto Ricans in Georgia were higher than for stateside Puerto Ricans overall. About half of Puerto Ricans in Georgia (51.9%) reported speaking only English in the home, a rate more than ten percentage points higher than among all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (38.8%). Only 10.3 percent of Puerto Ricans in Georgia reported speaking English less than very well, less than half the rate among all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. (17.3%). Puerto Ricans in Georgia were generally more educated than Puerto Ricans throughout the U.S. or in Puerto Rico. About a third (32.3%) of Puerto Ricans aged 25 or older Graph 1.A: Puerto Rican and Latino Population in Georgia, 2014 South American Other 3% 7% Central American 15% Mexican Dominican Republic 2% Cuban 3% Puerto Rican 10% 60% Table 1. Puerto Rican and Latino Population in Georgia 2000 2010 2014 Total 8,186,453 100% 9,687,653 100% 10,097,343 100% Not Hispanic or Latino 7,751,226 94.7% 8,833,964 91.2% 9,175,228 90.9% Hispanic or Latino 435,227 5.3% 853,689 8.8% 922,115 9.1% Mexican 275,288 3.4% 519,502 5.4% 557,780 5.5% Puerto Rican 35,532 0.4% 71,987 0.7% 89,462 0.9% Cuban 12,536 0.2% 25,048 0.3% 28,543 0.3% Dominican Republic 3,233 0.0% 14,941 0.2% 19,014 0.2% Central American 31,813 0.4% 106,987 1.1% 134,276 1.3% South American 19,496 0.2% 57,707 0.6% 68,288 0.7% Other 57,329 0.7% 57,517 0.6% 24,752 0.2% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 1, 2010 Census. Summary File 1, and 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. 2

had earned a bachelor s degree or higher, compared 17.6 percent of all stateside Puerto Ricans and 24.1 percent of those in Puerto Rico. A breakdown of the education demographics by sex indicates that a higher proportion of women (35.2%) had earned a bachelor s degree or higher, than men (29.5%) in Georgia. This pattern was also observed among stateside Puerto Ricans as a whole and those in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican participation in Georgia s civilian labor force (63.4%) was slightly higher than among the entire U.S. (61.6%), and both rates were almost 20 percentage points higher than the labor force participation in Puerto Rico (43.7%). The unemployment rate among Puerto Ricans in Georgia was 9.8 percent, lower than the stateside Puerto Rican unemployment rate (11.6%) and less than a third than in Puerto Rico (18.9%). Graph 2.A: Puerto Rican Education Attainment, 25 years and over, 2014 Bachelor s degree or higher Some college or associate s degree High school graduate (includes equivalency) Less than high school diploma 10.2% 32.3% 33.5% 23.7% 10.5% GEORGIA 17.6% 30.0% 29.7% 22.6% UNITED STATES 24.1% 21.6% 28.2% 26.0% PUERTO RICO Table 2. Age, Education, and Language 2014 Puerto Ricans Georgia United States Puerto Rico* TOTAL POPULATION 89,462 5,266,738 3,404,122 Median age (years) 27 28.9 38.9 62 years and over 6.4% 9.9% 21.0% EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population 25 years and over Less than high school diploma 10.5% 22.6% 26.0% High school graduate (includes equivalency) 23.7% 29.7% 28.2% Some college or associate s degree 33.5% 30.0% 21.6% Bachelor s degree or higher 32.3% 17.6% 24.1% Male, bachelor s degree or higher 29.5% 15.6% 19.6% Female, bachelor s degree or higher 35.2% 19.5% 28.1% LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME AND ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH Population 5 years and over English only 51.9% 38.8% 5.3% Language other than English 48.1% 61.2% 94.7% Speak English less than very well 10.3% 17.3% 78.8% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. * Puerto Ricans only. 3

Proportionately, more Puerto Ricans in Georgia worked in the higher wage management, business, science, and arts sector than among all Puerto Ricans in the U.S. and those in Puerto Rico. A third (33.6%) of Puerto Ricans in Georgia worked in the higher wage management, business, science, and arts sector compared to 28.1 percent of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. and 31.3 percent in Puerto Rico. Proportionately, Puerto Rican women were more present than men in in the management, business, science, and arts sector. In Georgia, 35.6 percent of Puerto Rican women worked in this sector, compared to 31.9 percent of Puerto Rican men. In the United States these proportions were 33.1 percent and 23.4 percent respectively, and in Puerto Rico were 39.7 percent and 23.9 percent respectively. The second most common occupational sector was the sales and office occupations sector accounting for 30.7 percent of Puerto Rican employment in Georgia. Puerto Ricans actively serving in the Armed Forces accounted for 3.7 percent of Puerto Ricans in Georgia s labor force. Similarly, over one in ten (11.6%) Puerto Ricans in Georgia was a veteran, almost double the national rate (6%) and more than three times the rate in Puerto Rico (3.3%). Puerto Ricans in Georgia also work in the government sector at a higher rate (17.3%) than Puerto Ricans across the country as a whole, though lower than in Puerto Rico (22.5%) The average earnings of full-time, year-round Puerto Rican men and women in Georgia, $56,304 and $40,374, demonstrated a higher disparity (nearly $16,000) than at Table 3. Employment and Occupations 2014 4 Puerto Ricans Georgia United States Puerto Rico* EMPLOYMENT STATUS Population 16 years and over In labor force 67.2% 62.4% 43.7% Civilian labor force 63.4% 61.6% 43.7% Employed 57.2% 54.4% 35.4% Unemployed 9.8% 11.6% 18.9% Not in labor force 32.8% 37.6% 56.3% Armed Forces 3.7% 0.8% 0% OCCUPATION Civilian employed population 16 years and over Male 19,456 1,058,918 516,762 Management, business, science, and arts 31.9% 23.4% 23.9% Service occupations 16% 22.5% 23% Sales and office occupations 23.6% 19.6% 21.3% Construction and maintenance 12.7% 13.8% 18% Production, transportation, and moving 15.8% 20.7% 13.7% Female 16,235 999,105 456,356 Management, business, science, and arts 35.6% 33.1% 39.7% Service occupations 17.7% 24.4% 16.6% Sales and office occupations 39.1% 35.7% 38.3% Construction and maintenance 0.9% 0.6% 0.6% Production, transportation, and moving 6.7% 6.2% 4.8% CLASS OF WORKER Civilian employed population 16 years and over Private wage and salary workers 79.8% 82.0% 69% Government workers 17.3% 14.8% 22.5% Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business 2.9% 3.1% 8.3% VETERAN STATUS Civilian population 18 years and over Civilian veteran 11.6% 6.0% 3.3% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. * Puerto Ricans only.

Puerto Rican Population by Counties in Georgia, 2014 Most Puerto Ricans in Georgia (45.8%) were settled in the northwestern region of the state, particularly in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area. The remaining 54.2 percent of the Puerto Rican population were dispersed throughout the state, yet there were small areas of concentration in the northeast (Whitfield County), parts of the east (Richmond, Liberty, Chatham Counties), and southwest (Muscogee County) regions of the state. The largest area of Puerto Rican settlement was found in the nine counties of Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area: Gwinnett (15.6%), Cobb (8.5%), Fulton (7.3%), DeKalb (4.8%), Henry (3%), Clayton (2.6%), Coweta (1.6%), Douglas (1.2%), and Fayette (1%). The second largest Puerto Rican concentration outside of Atlanta metropolitan area was in Richmond County (Augusta City) and in Columbia County, and both areas accounted for 7.4 percent of the state s Puerto Rican population. Muscogee County (Columbus City) located in the southwest region and Chatham County (Savannah city) located in the southeast region of the state both accounted 7.8 percent of the Puerto Rican population. At least 30 miles west of Chatham County is another Puerto Rican community located in Liberty County, containing 3.4 percent of the population. Latinos as a whole showed a similarly settlement pattern in Georgia as Puerto Ricans, with nearly one-fifth (19.1%) of Latinos settled in Gwinnet County and the remainder distributed in lower concentration throughout the state. Puerto Rican presence was overrepresented in counties outside of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area compared to the Latino population in Georgia. In all, Puerto Rican communities tend to reflect the location of U.S. military bases located throughout the state. COUNTY Puerto Rican Population Percent Latino Population Percent Total Population Percent Gwinnett County 13,263 15.6% 171,142 19.1% 842,091 8.5% Cobb County 7,240 8.5% 88,665 9.9% 708,920 7.2% Fulton County 6,197 7.3% 74,583 8.3% 967,100 9.8% DeKalb County 4,047 4.8% 65,649 7.3% 707,185 7.1% Richmond County 3,608 4.3% 8,889 1.0% 201,244 2.0% Chatham County 3,267 3.9% 15,990 1.8% 275,303 2.8% Muscogee County 3,340 3.9% 14,018 1.6% 198,247 2.0% Liberty County 2,896 3.4% 7,176 0.8% 64,489 0.7% Columbia County 2,657 3.1% 7,508 0.8% 132,362 1.3% Henry County 2,582 3.0% 12,788 1.4% 209,069 2.1% Cherokee County 2,258 2.7% 21,900 2.4% 221,951 2.2% Clayton County 2,226 2.6% 35,231 3.9% 264,221 2.7% Houston County 1,690 2.0% 9,262 1.0% 145,622 1.5% Paulding County 1,726 2.0% 7,807 0.9% 145,565 1.5% Whitfield County 1,563 1.8% 33,644 3.8% 103,132 1.0% Forsyth County 1,426 1.7% 18,184 2.0% 189,314 1.9% Coweta County 1,344 1.6% 8,833 1.0% 131,419 1.3% Lowndes County 1,235 1.5% 5,863 0.7% 112,515 1.1% Camden County 1,168 1.4% 2,925 0.3% 51,193 0.5% Douglas County 1,004 1.2% 11,740 1.3% 135,037 1.4% Other Counties 20,021 23.6% 274,920 30.7% 4,101,777 41.4% Total 84,758 100% 896,717 100% 9,907,756 100% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Notes: Total counts for populations may differ depending on whether the estimates are derived from the five-year estimates or the one-year estimates of the American Community Survey. Counties with less than 1% of the total Puerto Rican population were omitted. 5

PUERTO RICAN POPULATION BY COUNTIES IN GEORGIA, 2014 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 GEORGIA, 2014 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

the national level of $50,756 and $42,623 (about $8,000) for Puerto Rican men and women, respectively. Although Puerto Rican men in Georgia earned almost six thousand dollars more than at the national level, Puerto Rican women in Georgia earned about two thousand dollars less than at the national level. Compared to Puerto Rico where average full-time, year-round Puerto Rican earnings were $32,512 and $29,166 for men and women, respectively, Puerto Ricans in Georgia 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 higher for Puerto Ricans in Georgia than for stateside Puerto Ricans and those in Puerto Rico. The median income was $52,661 for Puerto Rican households in Georgia, more than ten thousand dollars higher than among all stateside Puerto Ricans ($39,322) and more than double the median income of Puerto Rican households in Puerto Rico ($18,710). Per capita incomes among Puerto Ricans in Georgia were higher ($20,552) than among all stateside Puerto Ricans ($18,457) and those in Puerto Rico ($10,960). Puerto Ricans in Georgia had $1.8 billion purchasing power. From an economic perspective, stateside Puerto Ricans represented 72.3 percent of the $134.5 billion total purchasing power of the entire Puerto Rican community in the year 2014. 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 $37.3 billion. Table 4. Income and Earnings 2014 Puerto Ricans Georgia United States Puerto Rico* INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2013 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) Households 27,272 1,635,808 1,175,297 Median household income (dollars) $52,661 $39,322 $18,710 With earnings 90.2% 76.9% 54.7% Mean earnings (dollars) $63,939 $61,065 $36,407 With Social Security income 16.7% 24.1% 43.2% Mean Social Security income (dollars) $15,926 $13,727 $12,159 With Supplemental Security Income 4.6% 12.6% 0.4% Mean Supplemental Security Income (dollars) $9,666 $8,780 $10,025 With cash public assistance income 2.7% 6.9% 8.1% Mean cash public assistance income (dollars) $2,798 $3,441 $2,316 With retirement income 10.8% 10.1% 15.6% Mean retirement income (dollars) $21,806 $20,452 $15,387 With Food Stamp/SNAP benefits 17.3% 31.5% 39.7% Families 18,792 1,114,628 830,807 Median family income (dollars) $61,150 $44,499 $22,220 Married-couple family 72.2% 53.9% 56.1% Median income (dollars) $75,072 $67,129 $29,417 Male householder, no spouse present 12.1% 10.2% 9.5% Median income (dollars) $37,169 $37,513 $17,797 Female householder, no husband present 15.7% 35.9% 34.4% Median income (dollars) $28,834 $23,957 $13,554 Individuals 89,462 5,266,738 3,404,122 Per capita income (dollars) $20,552 $18,457 $10,960 Mean earnings (dollars) for full-time, year-round workers: Male $56,304 $50,756 $32,512 Female $40,374 $42,263 $29,166 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. * Puerto Ricans only. 9

The poverty rate for all Puerto Rican families in Georgia (12%) was ten-percentage points lower than among all Puerto Rican families in the U.S. (22.7%) and those in Puerto Rico (42.8%). As seen in other states and in Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican households with a female householder, no husband, and children under 18 had the highest rates of poverty. In Georgia, 46.3 percent of these households reported living in poverty, compared to 49.7 percent across the U.S. and 69.7 percent in Puerto Rico. Regardless of context, these poverty rates are alarmingly high. Although Georgia had overall less Puerto Rican households in poverty, the proportional frequency of poverty in specific types of households mirrored that of other states. Public assistance income participation rates for Puerto Rican families in Georgia (2.7%) were less than half the national level (6.9%) and in Puerto Rico (8.1%). Although food stamp/snap (Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program) participation among Puerto Rican families in Georgia was 17.3%, it was considerably below the national level (31.5%) and in Puerto Rico (39.7%). Housing is a primary determinant of the cost of living. The median value of owner-occupied housing for Puerto Ricans in Georgia was $155,000, lower than the median value of owner-occupied housing for all stateside Puerto Ricans ($175,900), but higher than in Puerto Rico ($119,500). This Graph 4.A: Mean Earnings for Full-Time Year-Round Puerto Rican Workers, 2014 Male Female $60,000 $56,304 $50,756 $50,000 $42,263 $40,374 $40,000 $32,512 $29,166 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 0 GEORGIA UNITED STATES PUERTO RICO Graph 4.B: Puerto Rican Purchasing Power, in Billions, 2014 GEORGIA $1.8 PUERTO RICO $37.3 $95.4 UNITED STATES 10

Graph 5.A: Poverty Rates, 2014 Georgia United States Puerto Rico 42.8% 53.9% 37.8% 42.4% 59.6% 46.3% 49.7% 69.7% 29.5% 22.7% 18.2% 12.2% All families All families with related children under 18 years Female householder no husband present Female householder with related children under 18 years Table 5. Poverty 2014 Puerto Ricans Georgia United States Puerto Rico* POVERTY RATES All families 12.2% 22.7% 42.8% With related children under 18 years 18.2% 29.5% 53.9% With related children under 5 years only N 24.6% 57.1% Married-couple family 5.5% 9.7% 30.9% With related children under 18 years N 11.3% 35.5% With related children under 5 years only N 5.9% 33.9% Female householder, no husband present, family 37.8% 42.4% 59.6% With related children under 18 years 46.3% 49.7% 69.7% With related children under 5 years only N 49.4% 75.7% All people 18.3% 26.2% 46.6% Under 18 years 23.6% 33.4% 58.7% Related children under 18 years 23.6% 33.1% 58.6% Related children under 5 years 27.3% 34.7% 62.8% Related children 5 to 17 years 21.7% 32.4% 57.3% 18 years and over 15.4% 22.8% 43.2% 18 to 64 years 16.6% 22.8% 43.8% 65 years and over 3.0% 22.4% 41% People in families 15.6% 23.6% 44.6% Unrelated individuals 15 years and over 32.3% 38.5% 58.6% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. * Puerto Ricans only. N = No Observations. 11

discrepancy in home values may be affected largely by the lower costs of living in Georgia. Puerto Ricans in the state are generally making more money and more likely to be employed in higher wage sectors than at the national level, and could presumably afford more expensive homes. The median monthly owner cost associated with a mortgage was $1,317 for Puerto Ricans in Georgia, $1,545 for those in the U.S., and $873 for those in Puerto Rico. Less than a quarter (23%) of Puerto Ricans in Georgia who owned a home paid more than 30 percent of their income in monthly owner costs. This rate was higher at the national (37.2%) level and in Puerto Rico (47.4%). Georgia had considerably higher rates of home ownership (48.6%) among Puerto Rican households when compared to the national level (36%). However, these rates was lower than in Puerto Rico (68.7%). Table 6. Housing and Health Insurance 2014 Puerto Ricans HOUSING Georgia United States Puerto Rico* Owner-occupied housing units 48.6% 36.0% 68.7% Monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income in the past 12 months Less than 30 percent 77.0% 62.8% 52.6% 30 percent or more 23.0% 37.2% 47.4% Owner-occupied housing units Median value (dollars) $155,000 $175,900 $119,500 Median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage (dollars) HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE Civilian noninstitutionalized population $1,317 $1,545 $873 With private health insurance 65.7% 51.6% 38.0% With public coverage 26.3% 43.5% 62.9% No health insurance coverage 13.2% 11.5% 5.5% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 American Community Survey 1-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