When talking about Latinos in the United States, cities such as Los Angeles, Miami or New York, which for decades have had a large population of Hispanic origin, immediately come to mind.
But the fact that their presence is large does not mean that in those places citizens belonging to the country’s main minority are finding more opportunities to get ahead, at a time when the US economy seems to have finally left behind the worst of the economic crisis that began in 2008.
Best Metropolitan Areas for U.S. Hispanics
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Riverside-San Bernardino, California
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Houston,Texas
- Washington DC
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Virginia
- Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas
- San Antonio, Texas
- Austin, Texas
- St. Louis, Missouri
*Source: Forbes magazine
According to a recent study published by Forbes magazine, it is medium-sized cities, and particularly those located in the southeast of the country – with a special mention to the state of Texas – that offer the ideal environment for Hispanics to prosper and achieve the long-awaited ‘American dream’.
The research looked at the situation of Latinos in the top 52 U.S. metropolitan areas. And it took into account factors such as the percentage of homes owned, the level of entrepreneurship – measured by the number of own businesses – and the average household income, which “are the indicators of the success of the middle class.”
In addition, the increase in the Hispanic population that has occurred in these areas since 2000 was taken into consideration.
With these elements, they concluded that Jacksonville, in the north of the state of Florida, is the city that currently offers the most opportunities to Latinos.
Cheaper housing
In Jacksonville, the percentage of homes owned among Hispanics stands at 55% – well above the national average of 43% – and median household income is around $50,000, compared to $41,000 on average nationwide. In addition, 17% are self-employed.
After Jacksonville, the cities that appear in the top 5 are the metropolitan areas of Riverside-San Bernardino (Southern California), Baltimore (Maryland), Houston (Texas) and Washington DC.
Jacksonville, Florida
The locations that complete the list are Virginia Beach-Norfolk (Virginia), Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas), San Antonio (Texas), Austin (Texas) and St. Louis, Missouri.
According to those responsible for the study, one of the factors that makes medium-sized cities more attractive to Hispanics compared to large cities such as Los Angeles or New York, is that in these it is easier to find better quality homes at a lower price
In addition, they point out that the economy of states like Texas – which has 4 cities in the top 10 – have weathered the economic crisis much better, creating more jobs that require less skilled workers such as manufacturing.
It is precisely in the southeastern United States. where the Hispanic population has increased the most in recent years, attracting since 2010 1.5 million foreign-born citizens, more than any other region of the country.
More integrated
“The interesting thing about the results of our research is that most of the cities that occupy the top positions are not large cities and are predominantly in the Sun Belt (the name by which the southern states of the US are known), with the exception of Baltimore and Washington DC,” says Joel Kotkin, executive director of the Center for the Urbanism of Opportunity and responsible for the study published in Forbes magazine.
“In general, Hispanics fare less in growing cities with relatively low housing costs,” says Kotkin in conversation with BBC Mundo.
“In Texas cities, for example, Hispanics are much more integrated than in cities on both coasts. That has to do with history but also with the fact that the price of housing is not as high and land is cheaper.”
“At the same time, there are more jobs in sectors like construction or manufacturing, where there is a greater demand for Latino workers,” says Kotkin, who is also director of the Center for Demography and Policy at Chapman University in California.
“In cities like Los Angeles there are not as many opportunities anymore because many manufacturing jobs have been lost, so the structure of the economy does not favor Latinos.”
According to Kotkin, the Hispanic community is helping revitalize many U.S. cities, as with them comes a new workforce and new consumers, as well as many highly motivated grassroots entrepreneurs opening businesses such as restaurants, small shops or service companies.”
“The Hispanic middle class is the reason many cities have not entered the demographic decline seen in parts of Europe or Asia, while energizing the economy.”
Risks
Mark Muñoz, professor of economics at Millikin University in Illinois, points out that “many Hispanic businesses tend to grow with the support of the community and the community is stronger in cities of a smaller size.”
“Obviously, Hispanic entrepreneurs encounter problems, such as difficulty financing or lack of contacts, but they have the determination to succeed,” says Muñoz.
“They are transforming cities throughout the country with their economic impact and that will continue in the coming years,” says Muñoz, who points out that in the U.S. There are 2.3 million businesses founded by Hispanics.
Alejandro S. Amezcua, a business professor at Syracuse University in New York, believes that one of the issues that the Forbes study does not emphasize is the low level of academic success of many Hispanics, an element that he believes in the long term can affect the economic success of the community.
“The level of entrepreneurship goes hand in hand with higher education. I believe that until more Hispanics complete their studies, any gains that the community has in terms of wealth, home ownership or even entrepreneurship, are going to be at risk.”
Another problem, according to Amezcua, is that many of the Hispanics who start their own businesses do so in sectors with little added value, mainly in the service sector, opening restaurants, stores or gardening companies, which are businesses oriented to their own community. ”
“That’s a problem because as soon as there is a crisis those are the first businesses that fail,” says the expert.
