Hispanics in each of 12 successive age groups. The data give eloquent witness to the powerful relationship between ethnicity and age that underlies the impending demographic revolution.
time when trained intelligence has become more important than ever before in determining a person’s ability to find a job that will pay a living wage. Houston’s future will depend on the success these young people are able to achieve in today’s knowledge-based economy.
Among all area residents who are aged 75 or older, 61 percent are Anglo. In each younger age group, especially after the baby boomers, who were aged 50 to 68 in 2014, the percentage of non-Hispanic whites drops, while the percentage of Hispanics grows. The numbers of blacks and Asians (not shown in the figure) are largely unchanged across the age groups, with the African-American percentages ranging from 16 to 21 percent at the different ages, and Asians and others from 6 to 8 percent. Among all area residents aged 65 and older, just 19 percent are Hispanic, but Latinos comprise 51 percent of all the residents of the county who are under the age of 20.
The New Economy
In the years between 1880 and 1924, the last great “wave” of immigration brought some 26 million largely unskilled immigrants from southern and eastern Europe into this country.9 The nation in 1900 was at the beginnings of an 80-year period of vigorous industrial expansion that was producing a multiplicity of blue-collar jobs requiring few skills and offering many upward rungs on the ladder of mobility. The classic formula for successful immigration in those years envisioned three or four generations In the Houston Independent School District to climb the proverbial ladder, beginning with (HISD), the seventh largest school district in low-wage, entry-level jobs, then on to semithe nation, 62 percent of the 211,000 students skilled and skilled blue-collar work, and finally enrolled in the year 2013-2014 were Hispanic.8 into post-secondary education and mainstream This predominantly Latino younger generation America.10 “Peddler, plumber, professional” was will beofcoming into the workforce a the expected generational progression. 12 successive ageHouston groups. The data giveateloquent witness to the powerful relationship between11 ethnicity and age that underlies the impending demographic revolution.
FigureFigure 1: Percent AngloAnglo and Hispanic by Age in Harris County 1: Percent and Hispanic byGroup Age Group in Harris County 80 Non-Hispanic Whites
70 60
54
52
49
50
48
47
40 30 20
21
22
24
25
25
29
28
61 54
50
46
45
Hispanics
43 41 31
32 24
21
17
10 0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey five-year estimates. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008‐2012 American Community Survey 5‐year estimates.
Among all area residents who are aged 75 or older, 61 percent are Anglo. In each younger age
Kinderespecially Institute forafter Urban Research 4 Thegroup, the “baby boomers,” who were aged 50 to 68 in 2014, the percentage of
non-Hispanic whites drops, while the percentage of Hispanics grows. The numbers of blacks and Asians (not shown in the figure) are largely unchanged across the age groups, with the AfricanAmerican percentages ranging from 16 to 21 percent at the different ages, and Asians and others from 6 to 8 percent. Among all area residents aged 65 and older, just 19 percent are Hispanic, but