Hispanics Fastest-Growing, Second-Largest Minority in VA, New Data Show

(Charlottesville, Va.) According to a new report released by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, Hispanics are the second largest minority in Virginia, and the fastest growing. This is based on recent 2010 Census data and The American Community Survey.

Virginia’s Hispanic population grew by 92% since the 2000 Census, and 65% of Virginia's non-citizen population has arrived after 2000.

The Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (VAHCC) has been growing with the Hispanic community, and helping Hispanic-owned businesses for the past 11 years.  One Hispanic business fueling the national economy is VAHCC member MicroTech in Fairfax County, named the fastest growing Hispanic business in the nation in both 2009 and 2010.  MicroTech President & CEO Tony Jimenez stated, "Although we have employees in 28 states, it was a deliberate decision to place our corporate headquarters in Virginia due to the numerous opportunities diverse companies are afforded.”

Some disheartening trends confirmed by the study include a low high school graduation rate among Hispanics.  For the class of 2010, 18% of Hispanics had dropped out between 9th and 12th grade (compared with 5% of whites, 12% of blacks, and 4% of Asians).  Reasons they attributed to their choice to drop out mainly included a need to support their family financially, trouble with the language barrier, a dislike of school, and the belief that higher education isn’t needed to attain their goals.

The VAHCC’s Passport to Education Program, initiated last summer, aims to promote the value of education to Latino students and their families, by providing the information and resources necessary to meet the requirements toward high school graduation and higher education, in both English and Spanish. "Increasing Hispanic graduation rates is not only important for the economic and social progress of the community, but for the economic prosperity of our nation,” says Michel Zajur, VAHCC President.

An encouraging conclusion from the report is that Virginia-born Hispanics are generally in line with mainstream Virginians.  Household income and poverty statistics are in line with with normal patterns of educational attainment and employment.  The median household income for a non-Hispanic person was $60,000; for a U.S.-born Hispanic, $50,000.