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U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, Nurturing the Nation’s Workforce

When U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao first arrived in the United States at the age of eight from Asia, she spoke no English. The transition into a new country inspired her to become a strong supporter for those who wanted to build a better life in the United States. Today, Chao is the nation’s 24th Secretary of Labor and the first Asian American woman appointed to the President’s cabinet in U.S. history. Her devotion and hard work has led her to become a leader in carrying out the Department’s mission of protecting the nation’s workforce, health, retirement security, and safety. She is a passionate supporter of today’s goal of greater diversification in America’s economy, and a leading voice that understands the Hispanic community.

The road to leadership in Chao’s career involves the public, private and non-profit sectors. She was the president and chief executive officer of United Way of America, and also director of the Peace Corps. In addition, her government service includes serving as Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, Deputy Maritime Administrator in the U.S. Department of Transportation and White House Fellow. In the private sector, she has worked as vice president of syndications at BankAmerica Capital Markets Group and as a banker with Citicorp.

Under her leadership, the U.S. Department of Labor has created initiatives that help the underserved communities. Among her many initiatives is the Hispanic Worker Training Initiative, a program that helps Hispanic workers gain the skills required to access opportunities in the rapidly growing sectors of the economy. The Department of Labor has also implemented the High Growth Job Training Initiative, which seeks to increase access to education and training those on skills for the growing industries and the Community Based Job Training Grant Initiative, which provides training capacity of community colleges to meet local and regional job needs.

Hispanics, are now more than ever, taken into consideration on their contribution in the U.S. economy. As the population of our country grows, we will see change and a continuous one. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), since August 2003, the United States has created nearly 7.9 million new jobs, more jobs than the Eurozone and Japan together. The U.S. economy is strong and resilient, with a 3.3 percent rate of growth in 2006. In April of 2007, national unemployment remained low at 4.5 percent, more than a full percentage point lower than the 5.7 percent average unemployment rate of the 1990s.

The Hispanic unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in 2006, compared to a 4.6 percent overall rate. Among Hispanic women, the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent versus the 4.6 rate for all women. Overall, there are 20.3 million Hispanics working in the United States, and Hispanics represent 13.9 percent of the employed persons.

In 2006, the number of employed Hispanics grew by 5.3 percent; however, employment growth varied by occupation:

• Management, business, and finance occupations 11.1 %

• Service occupations 4.9 %

• Sales and office occupations 3.8 %

• Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 9.6 %

• Production, transportation, and material moving 3.1 %

In 2006, the Hispanic labor force participation rate was 68.7 percent, higher than the 66.5 percent rate for whites and 64.1 percent for African Americans. The participation rate for Hispanic men was 80.7 percent, higher than the 73.5 percent rate for all men. The rate for Latinas was 56.1 percent, lower than the 59.4 percent rate for all women.

Secretary Chao believes that education is fundamental to having access to opportunities. Because of the growth of the Hispanic population, it is important to take into account the value of education.

Two-thirds of new jobs being created will require higher skills and educational levels. Hispanic workers are less educated than workers overall; however, the more highly educated workers have greater employment opportunities. In 2006, employment of Hispanics (25 years and older) with a bachelor’s degree increased 8.8 percent, and employment of those with an associate degree increased 9.8 percent. In contrast, employment of Hispanics with only a high school diploma increased 5.9 percent, and employment of those with less than a high school diploma increased 4.7 percent.

Having mentioned the numbers above, here is how employment was distributed by education in 2006.

In the first quarter of 2007, median weekly earnings among Hispanics were $502 for full-time wage and salary employment compared to median weekly earnings of $693 for overall workers. The median weekly earnings were $615 for women overall and $471 for Latinas. Hispanic women with a bachelor’s degree or higher have median earnings of $773, 81 percent higher than the $428 median earnings of Hispanic women with only a high school diploma (2006 annual average).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections Program, employment is projected to increase 18.9 million jobs between 2004 and 2014, and net replacements for retirees and those leaving their job because of promotions or other reasons are expected to produce 35.8 million more job openings. Overall, the growth plus net replacements will yield a projected 54.7 million job openings. Over the 10-year period, growth-related job openings will be greatest in the professional and service occupations, especially in the health care field.

By 2014, the total number of jobs in the United States is projected to reach about 165 million.

The reality is that workers need at least their post-secondary education to access these opportunities. Nearly two-thirds (63.4 percent) of the 18.9 million new jobs are expected to be filled by workers who have some post-secondary education.
There is also a projected change in the new high-growth, high-wage jobs by workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Of the 18.9 million new jobs projected through 2014, 8.7 million are categorized as high-growth, high-wage occupations. Among these occupations with both high growth and wages, about 80 percent of new jobs are expected to be filled by workers with at least some post-secondary education.

Overall, career development and planning is important when evaluating options available in the workforce. Pursuing a career education and employment are vital to a better living. Then, what are the jobs of tomorrow?

Table 2, “Employment by major occupational group, 2004 and projected 2014,” illustrates that the professional and related occupations and service occupations are anticipated to add the most jobs from 2004 through 2014. Here, accounting will add six out of the ten new jobs. Occupations that are projected to lose employment include farming, fishing and forestry occupations.

Now, what are the 10 fastest growing occupations?

Table 3C, “The 10 fastest growing occupations, 2004-14,” shows that nine out of the 10 fastest growing occupations are in the health and computer technology field. For these occupations, it is clear that a degree, whether an associate or bachelor degree, generally is required. Six out of the 10 fastest growing occupations demand a post-secondary education or training.
The administration has also made an effort to target labor laws, and Secretary Chao has been effective in providing Spanish-speakers labor law material in Spanish. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Labor sponsored the first-ever Hispanic Health and Safety Summit. Soon, their Web site will have the Spanish language version of one of the prominent publications, What You Should Know about Your Retirement Plan, which makes retirement planning easier. She has also made it a priority to ensure that bilingual benefits advisors directly assist workers around the country on retirement issues. They are responsible to assist the Department’s Women’s Bureau in hosting “Women and Money” conferences for the Hispanic Community.

Secretary Chao knows how important it is to provide the opportunity for the traditionally underrepresented groups to advance in America. In the next 10 years, 60 percent of the federal workforce will be eligible for retirement, and this upcoming wave of retirements represent the more than 20,000 job opportunities listed on the federal employment Web site, www.USAJOBS.gov.

It is certain that Secretary Chao has proven her leadership skills throughout her career. She has made outreach to the Hispanic Community a priority, emphasizing the importance of diversity in the U.S. economy.

She has been an active role model and knows the tremendous contribution Hispanics are making in the United States. As Secretary of Labor, not only is she familiar with the role immigrants play in the U.S. economy, but can attest that she has herself experienced it in her own life the day her family first arrived to America.

Percentages given in this article are accurate as of May 2007. For the latest statistics, visit the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Web site www.bls.gov.
 

By Gloria Romano