{"id":76057,"date":"2025-10-07T17:11:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T00:11:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=76057"},"modified":"2025-10-07T17:14:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T00:14:09","slug":"one-in-five-americans-now-latino-new-data-shows-record-growth-and-economic-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=76057","title":{"rendered":"One in Five Americans Now Latino: New Data Shows Record Growth and Economic Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"

LAPost \/ Los Angeles \u2014 October 7, 2025<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For the first time in U.S. history, one out of every five Americans is Latino<\/strong>, according to a new analysis from the Latino GDP Project<\/strong>, a joint research initiative by UCLA and California Lutheran University. Using 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, researchers found that the total U.S. Latino population now exceeds 68 million<\/strong>, representing a growth of 2 million people since 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIn 1988, lacking today\u2019s data tools, we projected that the Latino population might reach 58.8 million by now,\u201d said Dr. David Hayes-Bautista<\/strong>, distinguished professor of medicine at UCLA and coauthor of the report. \u201cClearly, we underestimated their growth and resilience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The data also reveal record-breaking economic momentum. The Latino labor force surged 5.5% in 2024<\/strong>, reaching 35.1 million workers<\/strong>, the strongest single-year growth ever recorded and 4.2 percentage points higher than the non-Latino labor force. Since 2010, the Latino labor force has grown 7.2 times faster<\/strong> than its non-Latino counterpart.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTime and time again, we find that hard work, self-sufficiency, optimism, and perseverance define the U.S. Latino community,\u201d said Matthew Fienup<\/strong>, executive director of the Center for Economic Research & Forecasting at Cal Lutheran. \u201cThese are the qualities that continue to strengthen the broader U.S. economy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The report also found that the Latino labor force participation rate reached a record high of 69%<\/strong>, with a 6.2 percentage-point premium<\/strong> over non-Latinos \u2014 the largest gap ever recorded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMore people working harder leads to greater Latino GDP growth,\u201d Hayes-Bautista added. \u201cThese new data show that the U.S. Latino labor force is setting new benchmarks for economic vibrancy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

These findings follow the 2025 U.S. Latino GDP Report<\/strong>, which revealed that the Latino GDP hit $4.1 trillion<\/strong> \u2014 making it the fifth-largest GDP in the world<\/strong>, surpassing the entire economy of India. The U.S. Latino economy is also the fastest-growing major economy<\/strong>, expanding faster than China\u2019s GDP since 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Latino GDP Project<\/strong>, now in its eighth year, continues to highlight how Latino-driven growth underpins the vitality of the U.S. economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy empowering this community, we can ensure that their dynamism continues to fuel national growth for years to come,\u201d Fienup said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional Key Findings:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n