Household Composition,Employment Patterns,and Income Inequality: Puerto Ricans in New York and Other Areas of the U.S. Mainland

Abstract

This study focuses on the impact of household composition, educational attainment, and employment characteristics on household income for Puerto Rican householders in New York and other areas of the United States, frorn 1970 to 1980. New York householders had lower levels of ediucation. in particular fewer college graduates. and lower labor force participation, antd a higher proportion of female-hteaded households. Although average houisehold itncome declined for bothl groups, New York householders had significantly lower inicomes relative to those residing elsewhere. Regression standardization showed that, inl 1980, the average compositional characteristics of New York Puerto Ricans were "less favorable" to /iousehold income. Furthier, they received less inicome for their average characteristics. whleni compared to householders not residing ini New York. It is suggested thtat the deterioratintg ecoinom ic coniditionis of Puerto Ricans is a result of joblessniess anid low-skilled, loi-t-wage jobs amonig those employed. hindustrial restructuring, low levels of educationt, and the dramatic growth of female-headed households also accounts for their depressed economic status and explains some of the differences in economic well-being between New York and non-New York house-hlolders. Further. the problemns of mainland Puerto Ricans have been exacerbated by racial and ethnic discriminationt.