Latino Poverty Grew Over Decade, Study Finds

Although they have made significant inroads politically, Latinos nationwide are more likely to be poor now than they were 10 years ago, according to a report released Friday by the National Council of La Raza.

Latino officials say the statistics are particularly sobering because of the startling level of poverty among married-couple and multiple-income Latino families. In 1979, 13.1% of married-couple families were below the poverty line. In 1988, the number rose to 16%.

Overall, 26.8% of Latinos were poor last year, compared to 25.7% 10 years ago, the study reported.

“The Hispanic reality is not in keeping with the American dream that if you get married, have children and the father goes out and works full time you will do all right,” said Raul Yzaguirre, president of the council. “Poverty can afflict even those who are committed to hard work and family values.”

Yzaguirre said that realization comes as a particular blow to the growing Latino population.

“The work ethic is purely embedded in the Hispanic community,” he said. “What we’re finding is that does not translate into economic security . . . because policies of this country have a punitive impact on the working poor. It’s not necessarily in the best interest to go to work for a minimum wage job and forfeit Medicaid, housing allowances and food stamps, as well as welfare.”

The council’s report said future prospects for Latinos are further clouded by continuing employment discrimination against the group, the high dropout rate of Latino high school students and limited access to higher education. “At a time when education has become a cornerstone of economic security,” the report states, “Hispanics are the most undereducated group in the country.”

In 1987, the most recent year for which comprehensive statistics are available, only 51% of Latinos over the age of 25 completed high school, compared to 78% of non-Latinos, the report said. The report, which charted college entrance rates between 1976 and 1986, found that the percentage of Latinos pursuing higher education dropped from 35.8% to 26.9%.

Overall median incomes, when adjusted for inflation, decreased slightly among Latinos in the last decade, falling from $23,088 to $21,759.

The 26.8% poverty rate for Latinos last year compared to 32.6% for blacks and 10.4% for whites.

There were, however, important gains for Latino women in the work force. In 1979, Latino women had annual median earnings of $10,863. By 1988, their median earnings had grown to $14,845--an increase of 37%.