As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is spotlighting the growth and economic impact the Hispanic and Latino communities contribute to the region. With over 320,000 residents in the Charlotte Region, the Hispanic and Latino communities represents one of the fastest growing segments of the population.
Source: Lightcast 2023
Gains made in the Hispanic and Latino communities have been a key driver of regional population growth in recent years. Beginning in 2018 with just over 265,000 residents, the Hispanic and Latino communities have grown by roughly 20%. During that same time span, the entire Charlotte Region has grown by approximately 6%. In total, the Hispanic and Latino communities represent about 11% of the total population in the region.
Impact by Industry
Amongst minority groups, Hispanics and Latinos have the second highest workforce representation (8%), trailing only Black/African American professionals (23%). Amongst the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance target industries, manufacturing holds the highest share of the Hispanic and Latino workforce (9%).
Source: Lightcast 2023
While accounting for significant portions of the workforce, the Hispanic and Latino communities are also growing quickly. According to a study done by researchers at the California Lutheran University and UCLA Health, while Latinos are about 11% of the Charlotte Region population, they represent more than 17% of labor force growth. Other industries that Hispanics and Latinos stood out in included construction, wholesale trade, retail, hospitality, and government services.
What’s Next?
While the Hispanic and Latino communities have been an integral part in making the Charlotte Region a national destination, there are still gaps that need to be closed. While representing 11% of the population in the Charlotte Region, the Hispanic and Latino communities remain underrepresented in each of the five regional target industries. In a 2022 racial equity report, researchers at the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance outlined key regional initiatives aimed at closing that gap:
– Bridges to Baccalaureate Program: A collaborative effort between UNC Charlotte, Gaston College, and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College helps train students from underrepresented groups to complete undergraduate biomedical degrees and succeed in biomedical careers. This is a national program supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health.
– She Built This City: An organization that provides disruptive programming and helps build career pathways in skilled trades for marginalized communities. Through three separate programs (Women’s Repair Crew, Plumbing Pre-Apprenticeship, Pre-Apprenticeship Electrician Training), She Built This City aims to provide career solutions for women in the construction and manufacturing industry.
– Road to Hire: An organization that aims to disrupt intergenerational poverty by ensuring program participants have access to higher education, high-earning careers, and successful futures in in-demand fields including tech, healthcare, and engineering. Through three separate programs (Pathways, Scholarship, and Apprenticeship), they serve marginalized and underrepresented groups and provide them with opportunities that are otherwise hindered by financial barriers and systemic racism.
