Latinos represent three-quarters of the growth in the U.S. workforce, and they are no longer confined to basic services like construction, cleaning, and agriculture; instead, they are increasingly integrating into the broader American economy.
“If we were considered a country, the Latinos living in the United States would be the 5th largest economy in the world. In the past 11 years, the Gross Domestic Product—meaning the money we Latinos generate and spend here in the United States—went from $1.7 trillion in 2010 to $3.2 trillion in 2021, growing by 88%,” said Luis De la Hoz, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.
In an interview with El Heraldo USA on the occasion of Labor Day, celebrated in the United States on September 2, the leader from entrepreneurs like him and from the community in general, highlighted that Latinos are a young and economically active group.
Mexico, he pointed out, contributes to this by providing a young population characterized by a highly valued trait: discipline.
“I believe that this contribution is crucial at a time when many industries and companies are struggling to find people who are committed, who adhere to schedules, who are disciplined, who follow processes... This is where the contribution of the Latino community is most appreciated.”
The number of Latinos who have graduated from college and entered the workforce is setting a trend that inevitably places them in all sectors, he emphasized.
De la Hoz stressed that, although undocumented immigrants are not officially authorized to work in the United States, they are still required to pay taxes.
“The contribution that we immigrants make to this country, especially when we are undocumented, is incalculable. If it weren’t for those who pay into Social Security and unemployment insurance without being able to access these benefits until they adjust their immigration status, Social Security and other social services would likely be severely underfunded” Luis De la Hoz
Despite Their Contributions, Latino Workers Often Face Injustices
One of the main issues is that employers often exploit Latino workers by not adhering to the minimum wage laws. Additionally, working conditions are often inadequate, failing to meet the necessary standards for people to perform their jobs safely and effectively.
The challenge, according to De la Hoz, is to ensure that the Latino community becomes less vulnerable to the lack of information and understands that, despite being undocumented, they can and should demand the minimum conditions necessary for a dignified job.
The Colombian-born businessman residing in New Jersey urged the governments of the countries of origin to protect the rights of Latino workers, stating that by doing so, “they are essentially safeguarding the ability of these employees and individuals to continue contributing economically to their home countries.”
Currently, two developments have emerged that empower the Latino workforce. First, information is increasingly available in Spanish, and second, U.S. government agencies like the Department of Labor, along with nonprofit organizations, have begun using social media—since Latinos use social media more than any other population group to receive information.
“These two factors—the availability of communication in Spanish and the use of social media—have improved the ability to communicate the rights workers have in many industries,” he concluded, reminding everyone that regardless of immigration status, all workers have labor rights.