better jobs for latino workers: brighter future for north carolina

704.451.3978

Better Jobs for Latino Workers:Brighter Future for North Carolina

Greensboro, North Carolina

May 21, 2005

Colin Austin, MDC, Inc.Astrid Chirinos, Diverso Global Strategies

Deborah Kelly, Centro de Acción Latino

704.451.3978

What is Latino Pathways?

Latino Pathways is a program of community partners in Charlotte and Greensboro with a common goal to expand career opportunities for Latino immigrants in key industry sectors.

Research and planning support: Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation

704.451.3978

Source: 2000 U.S. Census

Education and Earnings

Guilford CountyTotal Pop. Latino

Less than High School, Age 25+

17% 54%

Median Earnings,Full-time (Men)

$35,940 $20,047

Median Earnings,Full-time (Women)

$27,092 $20,142

704.451.3978

Age Profile

Source: 2000 U.S. Census

R e l a t i v e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f G u i l f o r d C o u n t y b y a g e , 2 0 0 0

0 %

1 0 %

2 0 %

3 0 %

4 0 %

5 0 %

6 0 %

7 0 %

< 1 8 1 8 - 4 4 4 5 - 6 4 6 5 +

% o f L a t in oP o p u l a t io n

% o f T o t a lP o p u l a t io n

704.451.3978

Specific Occupations

Source: 2000 U.S. Census

Greensboro Metro AreaTotal Latino (%)

Construction Laborers

5,610 1,855 (33.1%)

Licensed Practical or Voc. Nurses

2,335 4 (.2%)

Nursing, Home Health Aides

8,360 135 (1.6%)

Latino PathwaysLatino Pathways

Interviews with the Latino Interviews with the Latino communitycommunity

Why is employment an issue Why is employment an issue for community for community organizations? organizations?

Main concern within the Latino Main concern within the Latino communitycommunity

Majority of questions we get are about Majority of questions we get are about jobsjobs

How can we get How can we get community input?community input?

Personal interviewsPersonal interviews Focus groupsFocus groups Key informantsKey informants

Individual Interviews

Male focus group

Female focus group

Mexico 2 6 10

Colombia 3 3

El Salvador 1 1

Nicaragua 1

Peru 3 1

Cuba 1

Chile 1

Participants

05

1015

Me

xico

El

Sa

lva

do

r

Pe

ru

Ch

ile

IndividualInterviews

Male focusgroup

Female focusgroup

Identified Careers

Electronics 5

Psychologist 1

Banker 1

Bank Teller 1

Administrative Assistant 1

Nursing 3

Communications 1

Accountant 2

Furniture Maker 2

Factory Worker 2

Sales 1

Farm Worker 6

Student 7

Current Work Performed

Stay at home Moms 4

Students 2

Restaurant Work

Cashier 2

Hostess 1

Cook 1

Wait Staff 3

Dish Washing/Cleaning 2

Airport Maintenance

Airplane Mechanic 1

Cleaning Crew 4

Lawn Maintenance 1

Factory Work 4

Self - employed 3

Maintenance (car rental) 1

Electronics 2

Sales 2

House Cleaning 2

How do you find jobs? How do you findout about jobs?

Newspaper

Friends/Relatives

Temp Agencies

Am not seekingemployment

Barriers to jobplacement/advancement

English

Children

Seniority

Job advancement trainingsJob advancement trainings

Most received trainings to perform their Most received trainings to perform their job onlyjob only

Most knew that their jobs offered no Most knew that their jobs offered no advancement opportunitiesadvancement opportunities

Most viewed their improvement in Most viewed their improvement in English as their tool to a better jobEnglish as their tool to a better job

Barriers to trainingsBarriers to trainings

Everyone mentioned English as their Everyone mentioned English as their barrier to job advancement and to barrier to job advancement and to trainingstrainings

Some viewed their work schedules as a Some viewed their work schedules as a barrierbarrier

How can we get involved?How can we get involved?

Advocacy within groups Advocacy within groups Weave agenda into other projectsWeave agenda into other projects NetworkingNetworking

Hispanic Initiatives at NC Community Colleges

Telephone survey and web site scan of all 58 community colleges in North Carolina, August 2004.

Conducted by: Jaime Espinosa, Curriculum Committee of the Hispanic/Latino Initiative

Major Findings

• 21 out of 58 colleges were able to respond to questions over the phone;

• 9 colleges have Hispanic-related programs other than ESL;

• 5 colleges have officials within the college that coordinate Hispanic initiatives.

Hispanic-related Programs

• ESL• REAL (Rural Entrepreneurship)• Family Literacy • Citizenship classes• Plaza Comunitaria• Leadership

Contact Information

Colin AustinMDC, Inc. (919) 968-4531

Astrid ChirinosDiverso Global Strategies (704) 451-3978

Deborah Kelly Centro de Acción Latino (336) 274-1188