People on the Move: Implications for K-12 Education
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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IntroductionDr. James H. Johnson, Jr. presented People
on the Move: Implications for K-12 Education (pdf)
to WCPSS administrators, principals, and staff in February, 2008.
The presentation illustrates the “browning and graying ”
of the United States in general, and North Carolina and Wake County
in particular. The presentation is listed on the WCPSS Demographics website in its entirety. An interview with Dr. Johnson can be seen on The
New School Connection - Changing Demographics. Overview
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I. Two “Colorful” Demographic Processes
Legal immigration to the US from 1921 to 1960 was primarily from Western Europe, the United Kingdom and Canada with a small population from Latin American and smaller groups from Asia, Australia and Africa. In the periods that followed, Latin America, Mexico in particular, led growth in immigration numbers, Asian immigrants and African immigrants slightly increased but immigration from Canada, Europe and Australia declined proportionally.
A projection of the change in race/ethnicity from 1995 to 2050 shows Whites as a group decreasing from a 74% majority to 53%, Hispanics increasing from 10% to 24%, Asians almost doubling to 8% while Blacks remain relatively constant across the period at 12-13% of the total US population. In addition, the age of the White population is projected to continue to increase, while the age of minorities decreases due to immigration and birth patterns. For example, native-born Hispanic women give birth to 80 children per 1,000 women versus 60 children for non-Hispanic women. Foreign-born Hispanic women in the United States give birth to even more children, 112 per 1,000 women.
II. The National, Regional, and NC Contexts
Changes in regional distribution of the foreign-born population show a shift from 1970 to 2004 from the Northeast and Midwest to the South and West. In addition, Blacks are returning to the South in greater numbers from the Northeast and Midwest. The South experienced a net increase of 6.6 million people from 1990 to 2000 as a result of 11.8 million moving in, 9.4 million moving out and 4.2 million people moving to the South from abroad for a relative change of 17.3% for the ten-year period.
US Census data showing the change in foreign-born populations by state from 1990-2000 have North Carolina leading the country with a 273% increase. North Carolina, while having the highest percentage increase in immigration, is sixth in terms of fastest growing Hispanic populations (43%). Wake County also experienced the same race/ethnicity increase during the ten-year period. The net population increase in the County for Whites and Blacks was 40%, while the Asian (162%) and Hispanic/Latino (530%) populations and other races (683%) increased at much higher percentages during this time. This rapidly changing diversity continues in the last five years, to 13%-15% growth for new White and Black newcomers to Wake County, and 59%-60% for new Asian and Hispanic/Latino residents.
While much has been said about the impact of Hispanic/Latino in-migration to North Carolina with the number of Hispanic/Latino students tripling in the state from 1990 to 2004, there have been broader benefits to the state with this in-migration. Over $9.2 billion has been added in total business revenue and 89,000 additional jobs were filled. Hispanics/Latinos’ cost to the state is an average of $102 per resident, below that of the average general NC population.
III. Implications and Challenges
There is no question that the US median age has been rising. While in the beginning of the 1900’s the average age was in the early 20’s, at the beginning of the 21st century the median age reached 35 years. In the ten-year period between 1990 and 2000, the number of people in the 18-34 age group fell 4% while those in the 35-54 age group rose by 32%. The number of US residents over 65 years old increased by 12% during this time. Statistics for the next five years, 2000-2005, continue in the same pattern with the 55-64 year olds increasing another 26%. Currently, Baby Boomers represent 42% of workers and the following Baby Bust population account for 34% of workers with the Baby Boom Echo group only 16% of the workforce.
What does this mean for the workforce? Companies will have to manage the transition of the “graying” and “browning” of the country. Competition for talent will be fierce and global. Successful recruitment and retention of skilled workers will hinge on the ability to effectively manage the expanding issues of diversity.
In order to educate students to compete in the changing work environment,
schools must offer a globalized curriculum and add racial/ethnic faculty
and staff trained in diversity sensitivity. Given the growing population
of students with limited English proficiencies, the possibility of “Balkanization”
and racial and ethnic segregation must be considered. Investment in resources
for adult education, especially ESL courses, is also needed.
Executive Summary prepared by:
Maja Vouk, Director; Debbie Twiford, Data Analyst;
WCPSS, Growth
and Planning Department,
Office of Demographic Studies, April 4, 2008.
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Site
Contact:
, AICP;
Director, Demographics