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A Latina’s Guide to the Job Market
Every year, LATINA Style evaluates the
top companies for Latinas to work for in the
United States. We evaluate the number of Latinas
in high-level positions at the companies, the
number of Latinas on their boards of directors,
the benefits packages and mentoring programs
they offer. We evaluate which companies provide
their current Latina employees the best work
environments and opportunities for advancement.
But for those Latinas looking for their first
job, looking to return to the workforce after
time off, or looking to change careers, what
companies are actually hiring? Where are the
jobs?
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau,
in 2003 there were 7.5 million Latinas in the
civilian labor force; this number is projected
to increase by 2.6 million, to 10.1 million in
2012. This is a very good thing: Currently
Latinas are the most underrepresented of all
racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. workforce,
at 55.9 percent; by 2012 their participation
rate is predicted to have risen to 58.6 percent.
Those 2.6 million Latinas, part of a total
workforce increase of 15.8 million, will join
the workforce in all arenas and at all levels.
According to America’s Career InfoNet (ACINet),
using data collected by the U.S. Department of
Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
occupations with the most job openings, for job
candidates with a bachelor’s degree or higher,
are postsecondary teachers (95,980 openings),
general and operations managers (76, 250
openings), elementary school teachers (54,700
openings), secondary school teachers (45,760
openings), and accountants and auditors (40,470
openings). Technology jobs are also expected to
have high levels of openings—with computer
systems analysts at 23,740, computer software
applications engineers at 21,830, and computer
programmers at 19,050. Lawyers come in at No.
10, with 20,720 openings, and physicians and
surgeons at No. 13, with 19,140.
In related data, ACINet predicts the
fastest-growing occupations with projected data
for 2012. Network systems and data
communications analysts topped that list with a
projected increase of 57 percent. The number of
physician assistants came in next with a 49
percent increase, followed by computer software
applications engineers at 46 percent, computer
software systems engineers at 45 percent, and
database administrators at 44 percent. The
number of physical therapists, at No. 11, is
expected to increase by 35 percent; the number
of public-relations specialists, at No. 17, by
33 percent; and the number of sales managers, at
No. 20, by 30 percent.
Job seekers are always curious where their best
chance for employment lies. This data only
predicts availability, and most of these jobs do
require specific skill sets or previous
experience. The good news is that jobs are
available, and Latinas are looking for them.
LATINA Style offers its list of the 50
best companies for Latinas to work for; Latinas,
a diverse group whose workforce presence and
power are constantly increasing, have endless
career possibilities.
For more information visit the U.S. Census
Bureau at
www.census.gov, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics at www.bls.gov, and America’s Career
InfoNet, at
www.acinet.org.
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