Latinos comprise nearly 15% of Illinois’ population, but less than 5% of its technology workforce.
Considering that Illinois’ Latino population is increasing, this under-representation in technology fields will have important consequences for the state’s economic growth.
Other key findings:- In 2007, Latinos were employed in only 5.5% of information technology jobs nationally and only 5.8% of key non-IT high technology jobs.
- Latinos in science and engineering earn lower median salaries than all science and engineering workers: $60,000 for Latinos in 2003 compared to $66,000 for all workers.
- Latinos are at an educational disadvantage in pursuing technology occupations as evidenced by low scores in standardized tests in mathematics.
- Knowledge about how to advance to college is low among Latino parents.
As the Latino population grows, opportunities will be lost as a consequence of not having a larger workforce engaged in STEM fields.
The opportunities for prosperity in the Latino community and in the state as a whole can be realized if organizations involved with education and workforce training, along with venture capitalists, join together in a unified effort to implement the recommendations of this report.
The Latino Technology Alliance will be a catalyst for the implementation of the report’s recommendations and will continue to look for opportunities to bring prosperity to the community, and to the state as a whole, through the development of Latinos in STEM fields.
Please see highlights of the key findings and recommendations related to education, parents and families, entrepreneurs, small businesses and venture capitalists, corporations and policymakers and communities.