Minorities in the U.S. workforce

The current number of minorities living in the U.S. has reached 100.7 million, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, making the country a genuine melting pot of nations.  Such cultural diversity can also be seen in the workforce. Hispanics or Latinos, African-Americans and Asians are seen in various white, blue and even “green” collar jobs.  You can spot an African-American CEO, an Asian head surgeon in a hospital, or a Latino politician.

From the report of the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the growth rate for minorities has become faster compared to that of white Americans.  Between 2002 and 2012, for example, Asians are expected to have an employment growth rate of 51 percent compared to the 3 percent growth for whites.  Thanks to the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) law, a large chunk of the U.S. workforce is already being shared by members of minority groups. Through EEO, workers are hired, promoted, and retained without any regard to race or ethnic origin.  This benefits employers and jobseekers, since some employers prefer diversity within an organization to allow better service to a wide range of customers.  Simultaneously, careers opportunities will continue to prosper for the minorities.

If you’re part of a minority group in the country, you may want to explore the following careers.  Aside from the benefits and high compensation you're set to receive with them, these careers have specialized programs that help minorities secure a stable and rewarding position within a particular industry:

1.       Registered Nurse

Nursing still remains the largest career in the healthcare industry, having provided 2.5 million jobs in 2006.  The number of registered nurses will still grow, as predicted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, generating 587,000 jobs from 2006 to 2016.  In terms of compensation, registered nurses receive an annual median earning of $57,280.

 As society becomes more diverse, medical and healthcare agencies will inevitably cater to a wide variety of patients.  Since nurses are frontliners who are often in contact with patience, their presence in hospitals plays a pivotal role in community outreach. “Some Asians might feel more comfortable going to a clinic (or any healthcare center) just because they see I’m Asian,” says Maria Nguyen, a Vietnamese nurse consultant for the U.S Customs and Border Protection. Furthermore, the Federal government even enacted the Workforce Diversity Grant Program, a scholarship program that helps give funding to minority nursing students who wish to complete their programs.

2.       Teachers

Schools are identified as a microcosm of society because of the different ethnicities of students present in school campuses all over the county. In public schools, 43 percent of the student body (from kindergarten to the 12^th grade) is comprised  of minority students, as reported by the U.S. Institute of Education Sciences National Center for Educational Statistics.  With the mixture of students, the National Education Association suggested that a greater diversity among teachers was only fitting.  Such diversity can boost participation from minority students in terms of academics, attendance, and extracurricular activities.  This might be the reason why local states encourage minorities to pursue teaching as a profession through programs that help them develop skills necessary to the education industry. 

One such program is the Consortium for Minorities in Teaching Careers in Baltimore. The program recruits and prepares high school minority students who are thinking of pursuing a career in teaching. Hands-on teaching training is made available to students who participate in this teaching career program.

The training is vital, especially with the expected 12 percent growth employment from 2006-2016.  Aside from imparting knowledge, one of the benefits of teaching is getting a higher salary compared to other professions. Pre-school to even college teachers can earn median annual earnings from $22, 680 - $48.690. 

With these careers, minorities can easily spot a niche in the workforce. Just remember to have an open mind, determination, and a degree in your pocket! Whatever the color of your of skin, career opportunities for the Asians, Latinos, or African-Americans are reachable. 

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