TheImpactoftheGreat RecessiononNevadasLatino Community

Whilethe aggregateeffects oftheGreat Recessionin Nevadaarewell understood,less attentionhas beendevotedto examininghow thecrisisaffected differentgroups ofworkersin Nevada,andin particularLatino workers.

JOHNP.TUMAN,DAVIDF.DAMORE,ANDMARIAJOSFLORGREDA TheemergenceoftheGreatRecessionof2008hadaprofoundimpactinNevada. Theeconomicdownturngeneratedhighunemploymentlevelsandledtoturbulence inmanysectors,particularlyresidentialhomeconstructionandthehospitality industry.Inthewakeofthecrisis,medianhomepricesinNevadaplunged,whilethe residentialforeclosurerateincreasedandremainsoneofthehighestratesinthe country.1By2009,itwasevidentthatatighteningofcommercialbanklendingfor newmortgages,combinedwiththeimpactofrisingjoblessnessandplunginghousing values,washamperingrecoveryeffortsinthehousingsectorandNevadaseconomy moregenerally.2Asaresultofthesetrends,residentialhomeconstructionthe engineofemploymentgrowthinNevadasince2000cametoavirtualstandstill. Atthesametime,thefalloutfromtherecessionthroughouttheUnitedStates reduceddisposableincomesandledmanyindividualsinCalifornia,Arizona,andother statestoreconsidertraveltoLasVegasandotherpartsofNevada.Spendingamong touristsvisitingthestatealsofellbelowprerecessionlevels,placingNevadas hospitalityindustryonceperceivedasrecessionproofonaveryinsecure footing.3Theconsequencesoftheeconomicdownturnwerefurthermagnifieddueto sharpdeclinesintheprimaryrevenuesources(gaming,sales,andpropertytaxes)that areusedtofundstateandlocalgovernmentservices.Inresponse,policymakers madesignificantandextendedcutstoeducation,publicsafety,healthcare,andother publicsectorbudgets. WhiletheaggregateeffectsoftheGreatRecessioninNevadaarewellunderstood, lessattentionhasbeendevotedtoexamininghowthecrisisaffecteddifferentgroups ofworkersinNevada,andinparticularLatinoworkers.Giventheconcentrationof Latinosintheconstructionandhospitalitysectors,andtheimpactofthedownturnin thesetwosectors,therehasbeenwidespreadspeculationthatLatinoswereat significantriskforunemploymentafter2008.However,todatetherehasbeenlittle empiricalresearchexaminingpatternsofLatinoemploymentandunemploymentin Nevadabefore,during,andafterthedownturn.Instead,moststudieshaveanalyzed howLatinosfaredatthenationallevelduringtherecessionandrecovery,offering littleindepthanalysisofdevelopmentsinNevada.4 BrookingsMountainWest|December2013 1

 Inthisstudy,weattempttofillthisgapintheresearchliterature.Drawingupondata fromtheBureauofLaborStatistics(BLS)andtheCurrentPopulationSurvey(CPS),we firstexaminecontinuitiesandchangesinunemploymentamongLatinosinNevadainthe periodbeforeandafterthe2008recession.5Next,weconsiderhowtherecession affectedthedistributionofLatinoemploymentindifferentsectorsofthestates economy.ThereportconcludesbydiscussinghowthelackofdiversityinNevadas economycoupledwiththeinabilityofpolicymakerstoaccessfederalemploymentre trainingprogramshavefurtherhinderedNevadasrecovery.

TrendsinUnemployment
Webeginwithadiscussionoftheunemploymenttrends.Asnotedattheoutset, Nevadawasparticularlyhardhitbytheeconomicdownturnwithunemployment reachingahighof14.5%inOctoberof2010.Yet,asouranalysisreveals,theimpactof theGreatRecessiononemploymentdidnotaffectallgroupsinthesamemanner. LookingfirstatthegreenlineinFigure1,whichpresentsthetrendinunemployment amongallLatinoworkersinNevadabetween1997and2012,onecandiscernhowthe economicdownturnaffectedLatinoemployment.6Between2002and2006,the unemploymentrateamongLatinoworkersinNevadafellfrom6.2%to4.9%.7However, asthefirstsignsoftroubleemergedinthehousingmarketin2007,thetrendin unemploymentquicklyreverseditself.Between2007and2010,unemploymentamong Latinosjumpedfrom6.5%to18.6%,butthenstartedagradualdeclineinthefollowing years.Still,in2012,themostrecentyearforwhichcompleteannualdataareavailable, LatinounemploymentinNevadaremainedat13.6%,aratehigherthaninanyyearprior to2007andmuchhigherthanthestaterateof9.8%.Incomparativeterms,the unemploymentrateamongLatinosinNevadawasamongthehighestratesintheUnited States,andexceededtheunemploymentratesforLatinosinnearlyeveryotherwestern state,withtheexceptionofWashington.8Inaddition,theLatinounemploymentratein theLasVegasParadisemetropolitanareamirroredthetrendatthestatelevel.This findingisnotsurprisinggiventhatthevastmajorityofNevadasLatinopopulationand laborforceisconcentratedinClarkCounty.9 Beyondanexaminationoftheaggregatedataonunemployment,afinegrainedanalysis revealsamorecomplexpictureabouthowtheGreatRecessionaffectedLatinoworkers throughoutNevada.First,theofficialunemploymentdatamayhaveunderstatedthe impactoftherecessiononLatinoemployment.ThemethodusedbytheBLStoestimate theofficialunemploymentrate(e.g.,theU3rate)doesnotincludedataon discouragedworkers.TheBLSdefinesadiscouragedworkeras[p]ersonsnotinthe laborforcewhowantandareavailableforajobandwhohavelookedforwork sometimeinthepast12months(orsincetheendoftheirlastjobiftheyheldonewithin thepast12months),butwhoarenotcurrentlylookingbecausetheybelievethereare nojobsavailableortherearenoneforwhichtheywouldqualify.10

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 Figure1 LatinoEmploymentStatusinNevada,19972012
90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 CivilianLaborForce(Percentofpopulation) Employment(Percentofpopulation) Unemployment(Rate)
Note:DatafromtheBureauofLaborStatistics,LocalAreaUnemploymentStatisticsProgram(LAUS)andthe CurrentPopulationSurvey,GeographicalProfileandUnemploymentandEmployment.

AlthoughdataonthenumberofdiscouragedLatinoworkersinNevadaisnotavailable, onehasgoodreasontosupposethattheirranksprobablyswelledafter2008.Asthe recessionemerged,Latinostendedtobeoverrepresentedamongdiscouragedworkers atthenationallevel.11Inaddition,theavailablestatelevelevidencesuggeststhatjob discouragementwasprevalentamongLatinos.12ThedatainFigure1showthatafter 2008,therewasadeclineinboththeabsolutesizeofNevadasLatinocivilianlabor forceandintheparticipationrate.13Between2008and2009,theLatinolaborforce participationrate(denotedbytheredline,inFigure1)declinedfrom75.5%to69.8%. Demographicchange(reachingretirementage,outmigration),schoolenrollment,and disabilitymayhaveplayedsomeroleindeclininglaborforceparticipation,butmostof thesefactorschangeslowlyanddonotexplainasteepdeclineoccurringoverashort period.14Rather,thepatterninthelaborforcedataisconsistentwithrapidgrowthin discouragementthatledmanyLatinosworkerstoexitfromthelabormarket.15 Second,Latinosexperiencedanincreaseinboththeaveragedurationofunemployment andinlongtermunemploymentofayearormore.AsFigure2demonstrates,the averagedurationofunemploymentamongallunemployedLatinosmorethandoubled, from16.7weeksin2008to38.1weeksin2012.Inaddition,amongLatinosinNevada whowereunemployedin2008,7.4%wereunemployedfor52weeksorlonger.By 2012,28%ofLatinoswhowereunemployedinthestatehadbeenwithoutworkfor52 weeksorlonger.Theincreaseinlongtermunemploymentwasassociatedwith

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anincreaseinpovertyamongtheLatinoadultcivilianpopulation(whichcomprisesboth thelaborforcepopulationandthosemarginallyattachedtothelaborforce).Indeed, between2008and2012,thepercentageoftheadultcivilianLatinopopulationin povertyinNevadaincreasedfrom12.35%to15.6%.16 Figure2 DurationofUnemploymentamongNevadaLatinos,SelectedYears

38.1 31.1

16.7 10.5 1 2006 2 2008

15

13

2010

2012

AverageDuration(weeks)

Unemployed52WeeksorLonger(Percent)

Note:DatafromtheBureauofLaborStatistics,LocalAreaUnemploymentStatisticsProgram(LAUS)andthe CurrentPopulationSurvey,GeographicalProfileandUnemploymentandEmployment,selectedyears.

Third,unemploymentvariedsharplyamongwomenandmenintheLatinopopulation. AsthedatainFigure3demonstrate,from2002to2005,theunemploymentrateamong femaleLatinaworkersinNevada(denotedbytheredlineinFigure3)wasslightlyhigher thantherateamongmen.However,between2006and2012,thetrendreversed: Latinomen(seetheblueline,Figure3)weremorelikelytoexperiencehigherlevelsof unemployment.Perhapsmoreimportant,after2008,thegapinunemployment betweenLatinomenandwomengrew.Forexample,in2009,19.1%ofLatinomenwere unemployedinNevada,whilethecorrespondingrateamongwomenwas13.1%.A similarpatternwasevidentin2010(theunemploymentratesofLatinomenandwomen were20.8%and15.2%,respectively).17AlthoughdifferencesinLatinomenand womenslaborforceparticipationrates(anddiscouragement)mighthavehadsome influenceontheunemploymentgap,wethinkthatthesectorialtrendsalsoplayeda role.18Joblossesbetween2008and2012inNevadawereheavilyconcentratedin residentialconstruction,asectorwhereLatinomenweremorelikelytobeemployed priortotherecession.Itisalsoimportanttorecallthatintheleisureandhospitality sectorswherewomenarewellrepresentedjoblossesroseinitiallytohighlevels(in 2008),butwerenotsustainedasthesectorstabilizedinthefollowingyears.19

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Figure3 UnemploymentRateAmongLatinoMales,Females,and1619inNevada, 19972012

45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 MaleUnemployment(Rate) 1619Unemployment(Rate)
Note:DatafromtheBureauofLaborStatistics,LocalAreaUnemploymentStatisticsProgram(LAUS)andthe CurrentPopulationSurvey,GeographicalProfileofEmploymentandUnemployment,selectedyears.

FemaleUnemployment(Rate)

Afourthtendencyisthatunemploymentwasconcentratedamongyoungerworkers. TheunemploymentrateofLatinosaged1619registeredat38.8%in2009,butdeclined to31%in2012(seethegreenlineinFigure3).20Therelativelyhighlevelsof unemploymentamongyoungLatinosareduetofactorsthatdisadvantagedmanyyoung workersduringthedownturn.Thesefactorsinclude:(a)asagroup,youngworkerstend tohavefeweryearsofeducationalattainmentandexperience,whichreducestheir employability;(b)youngworkersexperiencingjoblossforthefirsttimearesignificantly moreatriskforbecomingdiscouragedworkers;and(c)thereareanumberofobstacles intheschooltoworktransitionforyoungworkersintheU.S.andinNevada,including adequatepreparationforsectorsthatrequiremoreskillforentrylevelpositions.21 Finally,incomparisontoseveralothergroupsofworkers,Latinosweremorelikelyto experienceunemployment.Ofcourse,priorto2008,therehadbeenvariationin unemploymentratesamongLatinosandothergroupsinthestate.However,asis detailedinFigure4,aftertheemergenceoftherecession,theLatinounemployment ratebothincreasedanddivergedsignificantlyfromtheunemploymentratesofwhite andAsianworkers.In2010,forexample,unemploymentamongLatinoswas18.6%, whiletheunemploymentratesofwhitesandAsianswere13.9%and11.8%, respectively.Theunderlyingmechanismsthatcontributedtohigherunemployment amongLatinosremainunclear.Asnoted,Latinosweremorelikelytofindemployment inresidentialconstruction,asectorthatcontractedsharplyduringthedownturn.

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Figure4 UnemploymentRatesforAfricanAmericans,Asians,Latinos, andWhitesinNevada,20022012

25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 2002 2003 2004 Latino 2005 2006 2007 Asian 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 White AfricanAmerican

Note:DatafromtheBureauofLaborStatistics,LocalAreaUnemploymentStatisticsProgram(LAUS)andthe CurrentPopulationSurvey,GeographicalProfileofEmploymentandUnemployment,selectedyears.

Inaddition,Latinosmayhavebeenatelevatedriskforunemploymentcomparedto othersbecausealargeshareoftheLatinoworkforceinNevadaiscomprisedofworkers withlowerlevelsofeducationattainment.22Asthelabormarketweakenedafter2008, employerdemandforworkerswithlowerlevelsofeducationfell,witha disproportionateimpactonLatinos.23Indeed,thenationallevelCPSdatasuggestthatin 2011and2012,Latinos(bornintheU.S.andabroad)withahighschooldegreeorless hadhigherunemploymentratesincomparisontoLatinoswithmoreeducational attainment.24ThepatternofunemploymentamongAfricanAmericansinNevadaalso demonstratestheeffectsofeducationalattainmentontheriskofunemployment.In 2011,46%ofAfricanAmericansinNevadapossessedahighschooldegreeorless.The dataindicatethattheLatinoandAfricanAmericanunemploymentrateswerecloseto oneanotherbetween2009and2012(andhigherthantheratesforothergroups),which suggeststhateducationalattainmentisacauseforsomeofthevariationin unemploymentamongdifferentgroupsduringtheperiodinquestion.

ChangesinLatinoEmploymentbySectorandIndustry
TheeconomicdownturnalsoledtosignificantchangesinthedistributionofLatino employmentindifferentsectorsoftheNevadaeconomy.Asthedatapresentedin Figure5makeclear,thechangewasmostevidentintheconstructionsector.As demandforresidentialhomesplummetedinthewakeofthefinancialcrisis, constructionofnewhomesinClarkCountyandotherareascametoahalt.The cessationofnewhomebuildingafter2008wasassociatedwithasteepdeclineinLatino employmentintheconstructionsector.Between2003and2006,theperiodwhen

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residentialconstructiongrowthwasstrong,thepercentageofLatinosinNevada employedinconstruction(asapercentofLatinoemploymentinallsectors)wentfrom 18.8%to24.2%(seetheredlineinFigure5).25However,in2007,whenthefirst indicationsofdistressinNevadashousingmarketbecameevident,therewasa3.2% declineinLatinoemploymentinconstructioninthestate.Thistrendcontinuedasthe recessionbecamefullblown.Between2008and2011,thepercentageofLatino employedinconstructioninNevadafellfrom18.2%to8.9%,andcontinuedtodecline to7.6%in2012.Thissuggeststhatmodestrecoveryinconstructionhasnotyet arrestedtheimpactoftherecessioninthesector. Thetrendintheleisureandhospitalitysectorswassimilar,iflesspronounced.In2007, approximately32%ofallLatinoworkerswereemployedintheleisureandhospitality sectors.Thepercentagefellto28.8%in2009,andstabilizedthereafter.Still,in2012, thelevelremainedat30.3%,whichwasbelowtheprerecessionlevelregisteredin 2007.Inthinkingaboutthedifferencesbetweenconstructionandleisureand hospitality,itisworthrecallingthatrehiringinhospitalityresumedwithinaboutayear ortwoafterthestartoftherecession,whilehiringinconstruction(residential,and commercial)remainedveryweakwithmanyworkerturningtorepairworkinhomes purchasedbyinvestors.26 Figure5 DistributionofLatinoEmploymentinNevadabySelectedIndustries, 20032012
100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0% 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 CivilianLaborForce(Percentofpopulation) Construction Manufacturing WholesaleandRetailTrade Professionalandbusinessservices Educationandhealthservices 2011 2012

Note:DatafromtheBureauofLaborStatistics,LocalAreaUnemploymentStatisticsProgram(LAUS)andthe CurrentPopulationSurvey,GeographicProfileofEmploymentandUnemployment,selectedyears.

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Asaresult,therelativedistributionofLatinoworkersemployedinthehospitality industrystabilizedafter2009,whileemploymentintheconstructionsectorcontinuedto decline. AsonecanseefromthedatainFigure5,inothersectors,includingservices,wholesale andretailtrade,andmanufacturing,thepercentageofLatinosemployedineachsector variedslightlyaftertherecessionbutdidnotshowanyclearpattern.Similarto hospitalityandleisure,labormarketadjustmentinthesethreesectorsappearedtobe relativelylesssevereandshorterinduration.Giventherelativelylowskillednatureof somejobsintheservicesector,itisalsopossiblethatsomeLatinoslocatedin constructionmayhavebeenabletotransfersuccessfullyintosomeservicesectorjobs. Unfortunately,theCPSdataarenotrefinedenoughtopermitamoreindepthanalysis toaddressthisquestion.

Conclusion
Inthisanalysis,weassesstheeffectsoftheGreatRecessiononpatternsof unemploymentandemploymentamongLatinosinNevada.Thefindingsindicatethat unemploymentamongLatinosincreaseddramaticallybetween2008and2010,butthen startedagradualdecline.AlthoughthemodestrecoveryinNevadahasledtorecent improvementsinthestateslabormarket,theLatinounemploymentratein2012 remainedwellaboveprerecessionlevels.Inaddition,longtermunemploymentamong Latinosincreased,whilethedatasuggestthatjobdiscouragement(asmeasuredbythe declineintheLatinolaborforceparticipationrate)mayhaveincreasedaswell. UnemploymentamongmenandyoungLatinoswassignificantlyelevated.In comparisontowhitesandAsians,LatinosinNevadaalsoexperiencedhigherratesof unemployment.Inpart,thisoutcomereflectstheconcentrationofLatinosineconomic sectorsthatwereparticularlyhardhitbytherecession(e.g.,construction),alongwith theprevalenceoflowerlevelsofeducationalattainmentamongLatinos. ThefindingsalsosuggestthattherewasafairlysteepdeclineinLatinoemploymentin theconstructionsectorafter2008.AlthoughresidentialhomeconstructionintheLas Vegasvalleyresumedinlate2012andearly2013,itisunclearhowthemodestrecovery innewhomeconstructionisaffectingLatinoemploymentinthatsector.Therewasalso adecreaseinLatinoemploymentinleisureandhospitality,butemploymentinthat sectorreboundedsomewhat. Thebroaderpolicyimplicationofthisstudyconcernstherelationshipbetween educationandunemployment.LatinosandAfricanAmericansexperiencedmuchhigher ratesofunemploymentafter2008incomparisontowhitesandAsians,which,asnoted, maystemfromvariationineducationalattainment.LatinosandAfricanAmericansin Nevadahavelowerhighschoolgraduationrates,andthedataatthenationallevel indicatethatworkerswithlesseducation(inparticular,thosewithlessthanahigh schooldegree)wereatsignificantlyhigherriskforunemploymentduringthe recession.27

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Ofcourse,giventhatalargeshareoftheLatinopopulationinNevadaiscomprisedof adultimmigrantsfromMexicoandotherpartsofCentralAmerica,werecognizethat improvingeducationalattainmentandoutcomesamongLatinoswillbeachallenge.28 Still,adultLatinosbornintheU.S.,andnaturalizedimmigrantsfromLatinAmericamight benefitfromretrainingorotheradulteducationprograms.Yet,todatetherehavebeen limitedeffortstoretraindisplacedworkersinNevada.Mostnotably,statepolicymakers havefailedtotakeadvantageoffederalworkforcetrainingprogramssuchastheTrade AdjustmentAssistance(TAA)andTradeAdjustmentAssistanceCommunityCollegeand CareerTraining(TAACCCT)GrantProgramsspecificallydesignedtoassistdisplaced workersthrougheducationandjobtraining.29 Atthesametime,forLatinosbornintheUnitedStates(andchildrenwhoare immigrants),improvinghighschoolgraduationratesandaccesstohighereducationwill provideadditionalskillsetsandreducetherisksassociatedwithprolonged unemploymentduringfuturedownturns.Whatthisimplies,then,isthateffortsto improvelabormarketoutcomeswillneedtobesensitivetotheperformanceof educationalinstitutionsinthestate.However,aswediscussinanotherreport,todate NevadahasdonelittletoreformpolicyandfundingofK12andhighereducationinthe wakeofthedemographicchangethatisreshapingthestate.Themismatchbetween thestatesdemography,itseconomicneeds,andpresenteducationpolicyprovidesa significantbarriertoovercomingcyclesofeconomicboomandbustthathavedefined theSilverStatesincestatehood. Anaddedchallenge,particularityforthosewithlesseducation,isthelimiteddiversityof Nevadaseconomy.WhiletheGovernorsOfficeofEconomicDevelopmentis continuingtoimplementtheStatePlanforEconomicDevelopment,whichseeksto bothgrowanddiversifyNevadaseconomy,todatemostofthepostrecessionjob growthhasbeenconcentratedintheserviceandresortsectors.Tobesure,theuptick inemploymentinthesesectorsiswelcomenewsformanyNevadans,particularlythose whohavebeenunemployedforextendedperiodsoftime.However,theinabilityof Nevadatomovebeyonditstraditionaleconomicdriversleavesthestatevulnerableto thevicissitudesofbroadereconomicconditionsandputsthestatefurtherandfurther behinditsregionalandglobalcompetitors.

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ENDNOTES
JustinBHollander,SunburntCities:TheGreatRecession,DepopulationandUrbanPlanninginthe AmericanSunbelt,NewYork:Routledge,2011,pp.xi,5052,andMarkMuro,Unify,Regionalize,Diversify: AnEconomicDevelopmentAgendaforNevada,BrookingsMountainWest,November2011. 2 MenzieD.ChinnandJeffryA.Freiden.LostDecades:TheMakingofAmerica'sDebtCrisisandtheLong Recovery,NewYork:W.W.NortonPress,2011,pp.2830,45. 3 W.R.Eadington,AnalyzingtheTrendsinGamingBasedTourismfortheStateofNevada:Implicationsfor PublicPolicyandEconomicDevelopment,UNLVGamingResearch&ReviewJournal,15:1(2011),3750. 4 AlgernonAustin,UnemploymentRatesareProjectedtoRemainHighforWhites,Latinos,andAfrican Americansthroughout2013,EconomicPolicyInstitute,IssueBriefNo.350,February25(2013), Washington,D.C.,http://www.epi.org/files/2013/unemploymentrateswhite.pdf,accessedOctober26, 2013,andBureauofLaborStatistics,TheLatinoLaborForceataGlance,U.S.DepartmentofLabor, BureauofLaborStatistics,April5,2012,http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/reports/hispaniclaborforce/, accessedSeptember3,2013). 5 ThedatainthisreportcomefromtheBureauofLaborStatistics,LocalAreaUnemploymentStatistics Program(LAUS)andtheCurrentPopulationSurvey.TheCurrentPopulationSurveyisbasedonasample sizeofapproximately60,000householdsintheU.S.TheCPSdatamaybedisaggregatedbyrace,ethnicity, gender,andgeographicalarea.Oneofthedrawbacks,however,isthatthestatelevelCPSestimatesfrom theLAUSProgramdonotallowonetodifferentiatebetweentheU.S.andforeignbornLatinopopulation. ThedatainthisreportaredrawnfromtablesforvariousyearsintheannualGeographicalProfileof EmploymentandUnemploymentreportsWashington,D.C.BureauofLaborStatistics,LocalArea UnemploymentStatisticsProgram,U.S.DepartmentofLabor,http://www.bls.gov/opub/gp/laugp.htm, accessedMarch13,2013andSeptember3,2013.Additionalinformationisavailableat http://www.bls.gov/opub/gp/laugp.htm 6 ThesefiguresrefertounemploymentasashareoftheLatinocivilianlaborforce.TheCPSandBLSdefine unemployedpersonas:allpersonswhohadnoemploymentduringthereferenceweek,were availableforworkexceptfortemporaryillnessandmadespecificeffortstofindemploymentsometime duringthe4weekperiodendingwiththereferenceweek,BureauofLaborStatisticsGeographicProfile ofEmploymentandUnemployment.AppendixB:ConceptsandDefinitionsforDataDerivedfromthe CurrentPopulationSurvey,http://www.bls.gov/opub/gp/gpapnda.htm,accessedMarch13,2013.In addition,becausetheCPSdidnotapplythe2000Censusweightstothestatelevelsamplesfor2000and 2001,weexcludeCPSdatafromthoseyearsintheanalysis. 7 Thatis,thenumberofunemployedLatinosasapercentofthetotalnumberofLatinosinthelaborforce. ThismeasuresfollowstheconventionusedbytheBureauofLaborStatistics. 8 In2011,thehighestannualaverageLatinounemploymentratewasininRhodeIsland(21.6%),followed byConnecticut(17.8%).Nevadasrate(14.5%)washigherthanlevelsinColorado,Arizona,Utah,New Mexico,andCalifornia.OnlyWashingtonregisteredaslightlyhigherratein2011(14.8%).SeeBureauof LaborStatistics,TheLatinoLaborForceataGlance.U.S.DepartmentofLabor,BureauofLaborStatistics, April5,2012.http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/reports/hispaniclaborforce/,accessedSeptember3,2013.
1

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SeeJohnP.Tuman,DavidF.Damore,andMariaJosFlorgreda,ImmigrationandtheContoursof NevadasLatinoPopulation,BrookingsMountainWest,June2013, http://www.unlv.edu/sites/default/files/24/BrookingsReportImmigrationAndContours.pdf,accessed August25,2013.WhentheunemploymentratefortheLasVegasParadiseMSAisincludedonFigure1it mirrorsthestaterate(thegreenline). 10 CurrentPopulationSurvey,GlossaryofTermsDiscouragedWorkers, http://www.bls.gov/bls/glossary.htm,accessedSeptember5,2013. 11 BureauofLaborStatistics,RanksoftheDiscouragedWorkersandOthersMarginallyAttachedtothe LaborForceRuseDuringRecession,IssuesinLaborStatistics,Summary0904,April2009. 12 NevadasU4ratewhichisanalternativemeasurethatincludestheunemployedanddiscouraged workers(asapercentofthetotalcivilianlaborforceanddiscouragedworkers)reached15.2%in2010,and thenfellto11.9%in2012;BureauofLaborStatistics,AlternativeMeasuresofLaborUnderutilization, Nevada2012,WesternInformationOffice,BLS,March27,2013.http://www.bls.gov/ro9/altnv.htm, accessedMarch13,2013. 13 Thatis,LatinosemployedorunemployedasapercentageofthetotalLatinociviliannoninstitutional population(aged16yearsorolder). 14 Between2008and2009,theLatinocivilianlaborforceinNevadadeclinedby18,000,whereastheLatino noninstitutionalpopulation(aged16andolder)fellbyonly4,000.Thissuggeststhatdemographicfactors alonearenotthemainfactorsaffectingtheparticipationrate. 15 Certainly,outmigrationamongforeignbornLatinosmightinfluencethesedataaswell. 16 CalculatedfromCurrentPopulationSurveydataforNevada,adjustingfortheHispanicAdultCivilian Populationinpovertyin2008and2012.The2010Censusweightswereemployedintheestimation(see http://www.census.gov/cps/data/cpstablecreator.html,accessedOctober26,2013). 17 Thistrendwasalsoevidentamongfemaleandmaleworkersindifferentracialandethnicgroupsin Nevada,includingwhitesandAfricanAmericans.Themagnitudeofthemalefemaleunemploymentrate gapwassimilaramongwhitesandAfricanAmericans(insomeyears)between2009and2012,althoughthe gapwassmallamongAsians(note,too,thatunemploymentamongAsianwomenalsoremainedhigher thanforAsianmenforsomeyearsafter2008). 18 From2008to2012,LatinawomenslaborforceparticipationrateinNevadafellfrom56.3%to52.5%. Duringthesameperiod,theparticipationrateforLatinomenfellfrom78.8%to68.4%.Thus,whilethe ratewasfallingforbothgroups,itisclearthattherateforwomenremainedbelowlevelsformen throughouttheperiod. 19 In2012,forexample,19.5%ofallunemployedworkersinNevadawereinconstruction,whileonly9.1% ofthestatesunemployedwereinhospitality.Ofcourse,otherfactorsmayalsobeplayingarole.Welack morecompletedataonwhetherwomenormenLatinosweremorelikelytobecomediscouraged workers(i.e.,unemployedandavailableforwork,butnotcountedbecausetheyhadnotactivelyseeking

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11

workinthefourweekspriortothesurvey).Ifwomen(ormen)aremorelikelytobediscouraged,thiswill affecttheunemploymentratesthatareadjustedforthesexandethnicity(orrace)oftheworker. 20 Unfortunately,duetosmallsizesforcertainpopulationsubsamples,theCPSdidnotprovidedataonthe unemploymentrateamong1619yearoldLatinosforotheryears,exceptfor2002(thefigurewas9.2%in 2002).Therearenootherdataoncomparableagegroups(1619)amongAfricanAmericanandAsian workers.Forwhitesworkers,theunemploymentrateamongindividualsaged16to19washigherin comparisontoothergroupsofwhiteworkers(women,men),butlowerthanthelevelsexperiencedby Latinosbetween2009and2012. 21 StefanoScarpetta,AneeSonnet,andThomasManfredi,RisingYouthUnemploymentDuringtheCrisis, OECDSocial,Employment,andMigrationworkingpapers,Paris,106,127(2010), http://www.oecd.org/employment/youthforum/44986030.pdf,accessedNovember11,2013. 22 JohnP.Tuman,DavidF.Damore,andMariaJosFlorgreda,ImmigrationandtheContoursofNevadas LatinoPopulation. 23 TheCPSdataclearlydemonstratethatunemploymentlevelswerefarhigheramongworkerswithsome orcompletedhighschool(incomparisontoworkerswithmoreformaleducation)betweenJanuary2008 andDecember2010(seeCamilleL.RyanandJulieSiebens,EducationAttainmentintheUnitedStates: 2009,CurrentPopulationReports,UnitedStatesCensusBureau,ReportP20566(2012),http:// www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p20566.pdf,accessedAugust1,2013). 24 SeeBureauofLaborStatistics,EmploymentStatusoftheforeignbornandnativebornpopulation25 yearsandoverbyeducationalattainment,race,andHispanicorLatinoEthnicity,20112012.U.S. DepartmentofLabor,BureauofLaborStatistics,May22,2013, http://www.dol.gov/news.release/forbrnt03.htm,accessedSeptember3,2013.Asdiscussedinnote1,the BLSprovidesnationallevelestimatesthatadjustfortheU.S.andforeignbornLatinopopulation.However, BLSstaffindicatedthattheestimatesarenotavailableatthestatelevelduetosmallsubsamplesizes. 25 BecausetheCPSmergedsomesectors(e.g.,miningandlogging)after2002,weconfinetheanalysisto theperiodof2003through2012toavoidproblemsofcomparability. 26 Itisimportanttorecallthatthelaborforceparticipationratewasdecliningduringthisperiod.If discouragedworkerswholeftthelaborforcewereheavilyconcentratedinonesector,suchas construction,thiswouldhaveaffectedtherelativepercentagesoftheremainingLatinosemployedin differentsectors.Weremainhopefulthatfutureresearchwillattempttoaddressthishypothesis. 27 BureauofLaborStatistics,EmploymentStatusoftheforeignbornandnativebornpopulation25years andoverbyeducationalattainment,race,andHispanicorLatinoEthnicity,20112012. 28 JohnP.Tuman,DavidF.Damore,andMariaJosFlorgreda,ImmigrationandtheContoursofNevadas LatinoPopulation.

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AccordingtodatafromtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofLabor,in2010Nevadawasallocated$263,888 fromtheTAAprogramtofinancejobtrainingforanestimatedtotalof63Nevadaworkers.In2011,Nevada receivednoTAAallocationandin2012thestatewasallocated$873,106toassistwithjobtrainingforan estimated570displacedworkers(seehttp://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/Stateoverview.cfm,accessed November8,2013).Similarly,aftertworoundsofTAACCCTgrants,whichfundpartnershipsbetween communitycollegesandlocalindustriestoretraindisplacedworkers,Nevadahasfailedtosubmita qualifyingapplication.Asaconsequence,thatstatehasreceivedtheminimumguaranteedawardstotaling $5.2millionoutatotalallocationof$1billion(seehttp://www.doleta.gov/taaccct/grantawards.cfm, accessedNovember8,2013).

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BrookingsMountainWest
Establishedin2009asapartnershipbetweenthe BrookingsInstitutionandtheUniversityof Nevada,LasVegas(UNLV),BrookingsMountain West(BMW)seekstobringhighquality independentandinfluentialpublicpolicyresearch tothecriticalissuesfacingthedynamic metropolitanareasoftheMountainWestregion. Inthis,thenewinitiativebuildsupontheworkof BrookingsMetropolitanPolicyProgram,which focusesonhelpingmetropolitanareasgrowin robust,inclusive,andsustainablewaysthrough attentiontothefundamentaldriversofprosperity suchasinnovation,infrastructure,humancapital, andqualityofplace,aswellasregional governance.Alongthoselines,BMW,alongwith partnersthroughouttheMountainWest,takesa deepinterestinsuchareasasinfrastructure improvement,economicgrowth,demographic change,environmentalimpact,alternativeenergy, andrealestateinvestment.AstheMountainWest emergesasanewAmericanHeartland,itwillplay anincreasinglysignificantroleinshapingnational policydiscussions.BMWprovidesaforumforthis dialogueandoffersknowledgebasedpolicy solutionstohelpimprovethequalityoflifeinthe West. Learnmoreat: http://brookingsmtnwest.unlv.edu/

AbouttheAuthors
DavidF.Damore,AssociateProfessor,Department ofPoliticalScience,UniversityofNevada,Las VegasisaNonresidentSeniorFellowin GovernanceStudiesattheBrookingsInstitution. Heisalsodevelopingcurriculumfortherecently createdBrookingsMinorinPublicPolicyofferedin coordinationwiththeBrookingsMountainWest. Dr.Damoresresearchinterestsarethestudyof campaignsandelectionsandpublicpolicyatthe stateandnationallevels.Dr.Damoreearnedhis Ph.D.fromtheUniversityofCalifornia,Davis (2000),hisM.A.fromtheUniversityofGeorgia (1995),andhisB.A.fromtheUniversityof California,SanDiego(1992)allinPoliticalScience. JohnP.Tuman(Ph.D.,UniversityofCalifornia;Los Angeles;M.A.,UniversityofChicago;B.A., UniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley)isChairand AssociateProfessor,DepartmentofPolitical Science.HeistheauthorofReshapingtheNorth AmericanAutomobileIndustry:Restructuring, CorporatismandUnionDemocracyinMexico (Routledge/Continuum,2003),TheNorth AmericanAutoIndustryBeyondNAFTA: ProductivityandIndustrialRelations(Centerfor Strategic&InternationalStudies,2000),andLatin AmericanMigrantsintheLasVegasValley:Civic EngagementandPoliticalParticipation(Woodrow WilsonInternationalCenterforScholars,2009). MariaAgredaisaUNLValumnus.Shegraduated withHonorsanddegreesinPoliticalScienceand Journalism,andaminorinLatinAmericanStudies.

Acknowledgments
TheauthorsareindebtedtoRobertLang,Mark Muro,andWilliamE.Brown,Jr.,atBrookings MountainWest,allwhoprovidedinvaluable insights.AlexandraNikolich,BrookingsMountain West,offeredvaluableeditinganddesign expertise.

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