Puerto Rican Educational, Economic, and Occupational Advancement in New York City

1. Puerto Rican Educational, Economic, and Occupational Advancement in New York City Puerto Rican Population Within the 5 New York Boroughs 1950-1990 Educational Attainment of Adult Puerto Ricans in New York City 1980 and 1990 1980 1990 < $50,000 $50,000 - $99,999 < $50,000 Total and Puerto Rican Females and Males, 16 + Years by Occupation in NYC 1990 in Comparison to the General Population in New York City NYC Puerto Ricans NYC Puerto Ricans By Sarah Dow Data and Methodology Introduction Analysis Citizens from Puerto Rico have been immigrating to the United States years before the Jones Act in 1971 which granted Puerto Rico US Citizenship. Economic hardships in Puerto Rico were at a peak during the 1930’s. The United States assisted the island with programs that would help the economy. Operation Bootstrap was created by Puerto Rico to attract US companies to relocate their factories in Puerto Rico where there would be tax incentives and cheap labor. Although this program created many jobs, it wasn’t sufficient for the entire population. In 1952, Puerto Rico became a commonwealth country. The data obtained shows New York City as a highly concentrated and populated area among Puerto Rican immigrants. In 1950, the Puerto Rican population were concentrated in few areas of the island. The 2000 census depicts the population as more dispersed but more populated in the northern part of the island. The educational attainment maps portray the population of Puerto Ricans of varying levels of education. The least educated are a prominent population, located in the same areas that were settled in the 1950’s. The higher the education level, the less prevalent the population is in New York City. Those who have attained a higher education and remained in the city, reside in the same Puerto Rican neighborhoods. Large influxes of Puerto Ricans came to the mainland in three stages of immigration to the United States; the Pioneer Migration (1900-1945), the Great Migration (1946-1964), and the Revolving Door Migration (1965-present). The Pioneer Migration saw large settlements in New York City due to its industrial sector. The Great Migration was the largest proportion of a nation to migrate to another nation in such a small period of time. This was the first ‘airborne’ migration to the United States. New York City continued to be the main focal point of Puerto Rican immigration. The Revolving Door stage is still occurring; many Puerto Ricans move back and forth from Puerto Rico to the United States. Although Puerto Ricans are not immigrants to the United States, they resemble immigrants in many ways; there were push and pull factors that lead to their migration to the United States for economic opportunities, they have to adapt to a new culture, and learn a new language. From 1980 to 1990, there was a substantial increase in the percent who graduated from high school. The median household income from the 2000 census indicates that the higher the income, the smaller the population residing in New York City. Puerto Ricans who earn less than $50,000 per year are highly concentrated among the areas where the first Puerto Rican immigrants first settled. This income group comprises of 85% of the Puerto Rican population living in New York City. Only 1% of the Puerto Rican population who earn over $150,000 live in the city and in the areas of heavy Puerto Rican population. From 1980 to 1990, there was an increase in occupation overall. A major increase was seen in managerial and professional employment within the Puerto Rican community. There was a 10% increase in blue collar work for men and a 44% fall for women. Discussion of Study Area Discussion of Results The area of study is New York County, more commonly referred to as New York City. This area has been and continues to function as a major entry point and a major area of settlement and residence of the Puerto Rican population. The “Puerto Rican Problem” during the Great Migration was the immigrants’ struggle in school and to learn English, the low wage jobs, and increasing unemployment levels. Unemployment was a result of the decline in manufacturing jobs in New York City where a majority of Puerto Ricans were employed, service jobs required more skills which the immigrant workers lacked, industries relocated to the suburbs, and new technology replaced manual labor. By 1950, Puerto Ricans were concentrated in 6 areas on Manhattan Island (depicted in the top left map) where low cost housing was available, social networks were present, and neighborhoods near bus stops, subway terminals, and cheap transportation were nearby. During the late 1900’s, Puerto Ricans comprised the largest Hispanic community in New York City and one of the largest ethnic groups in the city. From 1980 to 1990, more Puerto Ricans left the city than entered during the decade; they settled in areas outside of the city. Although many immigrants tend to settle outside of the city, the largest concentration of Puerto Ricans in the United States still resides in New York City. Puerto Ricans in New York City have gone through major changes since the 1950’s. The Distribution of Puerto Ricans on Manhattan Island 1950 shows that many Puerto Ricans settled in few areas, but these areas were heavily populated. The 2000 census depicts a similar pattern of Puerto Rican distribution in Manhattan. The north is still heavily concentrated, but the population is more dispersed. The New York Puerto Ricans ages 25 and higher are less educated than the general population in New York City. Over a period of three decades., there has been an increase in the percent of Puerto Ricans who graduated high school and furthered their education. Those who have furthered their education have moved out of the first settlement areas and moved out of the city. Few Puerto Rican men and women were in blue collar occupations in 1990 compared to 1980. There was a loss of blue collar jobs and an increase in managerial and processional occupations and service occupations, white collar jobs. In 1990, males were more prominent in professional and related services and in transportation, communications, and public utilities. More females also entered professional and related services as well as health and educational services. Puerto Ricans experienced a noticeable increase in income between 1980 and 1990. Puerto Rican men and women who obtained an education and acquired a job attain a measure of economic achievement. Problem Statement How has the Puerto Rican population changed in terms of settlement, income, and education, and location within New York City since their first arrival? Conclusions Hypothesis The hypothesis was correct; Over time, more Puerto Ricans enrolled and furthered their education with the help of legislations such as Aspira consent Decree which expanded the bilingual education program and increased the number of Spanish speaking teachers in city schools. Today, a better education can result in obtaining a white collar job. Better jobs usually correspond with an increase in income as well. There is also a correlation between a higher income and the ability to move away from the city, and away from low cost housing areas and inner cities. Puerto Rican patterns within New York City have undergone dramatic change since the period of initial migration. The Puerto Rican population came to New York City for economic, educational, social, and political reasons as well as better opportunities than they would experience in Puerto Rico. There was an increase in migration from Puerto Rico to New York during the 1900’s. The recent Puerto Rican population in New York City has changed by becoming more educated which leads to better job, which as a result increases income. Puerto Ricans with a better education, and higher paying jobs tend to leave the city. Literature Review Bibliography • - New York Dept. of City Planning. “Puerto Rican New Yorkers in 1990”. Department of City Planning, 1994. • This is the most recent article regarding the Puerto Rican population in New York City. It is very descriptive in explaining the settlement of Puerto Ricans within New York City, the educational attainment of the Puerto Rican population, occupations and industries that Puerto Ricans are found, earnings, as well as how much or little the Puerto Rican population has advanced in the New York community. Many charts are included that have been utilized in this project. • Gonzalez and Perez, Maria E. Puerto Ricans in the United States. Greenwood Press. Westport, CT. 2000 • The authors of this book give a great explanation of the history of Puerto Rican immigration and settlement and how they have adapted to the United States. • - Novak, Robert T. “Distribution of Puerto Ricans on Manhattan Island”. Geographical Review, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Apr., 1956) • This is a new document is specific to Puerto Rican settlement in New York City. The Puerto Rican population settled in NYC in large numbers and in concentrations within the island, near certain areas. • - Ramos, Carlos Vargas. ‘Settlement Patterns and Residential Segregation of Puerto Ricans in the United States’. Policy Report. Volume 1 No. 2. Hunter College. Fall 2006. • This document goes into Puerto Rican population growth and distribution in the US, the population concentration and segregation; segregation of Puerto Ricans and non Hispanic white population and the index of dissimilarity of Puerto Ricans and non Puerto Rican Hispanic groups and the changes between 1990 and 2000. Even though Puerto Ricans frequently change areas of settlement, they are always found living among other Puerto Ricans and remain segregated in the US. The concentration of Puerto Ricans can have positive and negative consequences culturally, politically and socio-economically. The settlement of Puerto Ricans is usually in poor areas of cities and suburbs. This document includes many charts and maps. • - Gonzalez and Perez, Maria E. Puerto Ricans in the United States. Greenwood Press. Westport, CT. 2000. • - “Latino Justice PRLDF”. Available. Online: http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6807. 1 December, 2009. • - New York Dept. of City Planning. “Puerto Rican New Yorkers in 1990”. Department of City Planning, 1994. • - Novak, Robert T. “Distribution of Puerto Ricans on Manhattan Island”. Geographical Review, Vol. 46, No. 2. April 1956. • - Rodriguez, Clara E. “Puerto Ricans: Immigrants and Migrants:. Americans All: A National Education Program. • - Maldonado-Dens, Manuel. San Juan Comes to New York. January 19,1959. Lexis Nexis: accessed November 2009. • Hernandez-Alvarez, J. “The Movement and Settlement of Puerto Rican Migrants within the United States, 1950-1960”. International Migration Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, The Puerto Rican Experience on the United States Mainland. Spring 1968. • - Macisco, John J. “Assimilation of the Puerto Ricans on the Mainland: A Socio-Demographic Approach”. International migration Review. Vol. 2, No. 2. Spring 1968. • - Senior, Clarence. “The Puerto Ricans in New York: A Progress Note”. International Migration Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, The Puerto Rican Experience on the United States Mainland. Spring 1968. • - Vargas-Ramos, Carlos. “Settlement Patterns and Residential Segregation of Puerto Ricans in the United States”. Policy Report, Volume 1, No. 2. Fall 2006. • - Maps: American Fact Finder, Census 2000. http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en