Hispanic numbers surge as number of minorities in the united states tops 100 million

For the first time in the history of the United States, the nation’s minority population has soared past the 100 million mark, which means that now, one of every three individuals is a minority.

This is a very important milestone that is indicative of more challenges on the horizon when it comes to workplaces and communities learning to understand and embrace diversity.

According to Census estimates released today, Hispanics are still the largest minority group at 44.3 million and were responsible for nearly 50 percent of the nation’s overall growth between 2005 and 2006. Hispanics have also moved into more states across the US and into areas where there are fewer white individuals being born and more white individuals that are getting older.

Because the Hispanic community overall is so much younger than the aging white community, workplaces, classrooms, and entire communities are being transformed by the expansion of Hispanics into states and communities across the country.

The new census figures also show that the non-Hispanic white school-age population decreased 4 percent since 2000, while the number of Hispanic school-age kids jumped 21 percent. Overall, since 2000 the white under-15 population declined in all but nine states.

Every single state experienced a growth in its Hispanic population since 2000. In Nevada alone, where Hispanics accounted for one of every five residents in 2000, in 2006 they accounted for one of every four residents. Nevada had the overall fastest growing population under 15, and Hispanic youth were responsible for 67 percent of those gains.

So what does this mean for workplace diversity? Because the labor force is shrinking there will be more senior workers remaining in a workforce that will have an ever increasing number of Hispanic professionals.

The presence of older workers and young Hispanics in the workforce will not only invite generational differences and conflicts, but also cultural and social conflicts. Both old white people and young Hispanics have very different ways of viewing the workplace, of conducting their own work, they have different work ethics, and different political, social, and economic agendas. These are all potential sources of conflict in the workplace of the very near future.

This does not mean that one group has to dominate the other in the workplace, nor does it mean that individuals who are vastly different cannot effectively work together in a productive manner. All it means is that employers need to make sure to have built in flexibility into their workplace diversity policies, procedures, and recruiting practices.

Employers need to make sure they identify the diversity trends in the workforce and make the changes to their policies to meet the needs of the dynamically diverse workforce. If companies choose not to do so, they may find themselves with a very diverse but conflicted workforce that is not as productive as it could be.