Hispanic population growing

The Hispanic population in Idaho has grown from 5.3 percent in 2000 to 8.9 percent this year, according to a statewide analysis by Idaho Commerce and Labor conducted with the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

The report, released Tuesday, also found that the buying power of Hispanics, the largest minority in the state, increased from 2.8 percent to above 5 percent during that same period. Hispanic spending is projected to be $2.1 billion of the state’s $40.9 billion this year, the report said.

“(Buying power) is tied to earning capability,” Bob Fick, public affairs officer with Idaho Commerce and Labor, told the Coeur d’Alene Press. “It’s essentially your disposable income and how much money you’re able to put into the economy. It’s what people spend.”

The study found that the buying power of Hispanics since 2000 has increased at an annual average of 2.7 percent, compared with an annual average of 1.7 percent for non-Hispanics.

However, the study also found the per capita buying power of Hispanics in Idaho is only 51 percent that of non-Hispanics.

“Although Hispanics are becoming better off at a faster rate than non-Hispanics, the gap remains significant,” Margie Gonzalez, executive director of the Hispanic commission, said in a statement. “Closing that gap further will require increasing the education and training available to Hispanics.”

The study noted that the U.S. Census Bureau in 2005 found that 54 percent of Idaho Hispanics above age 25 did not have high school diplomas, compared with 13 percent of the overall population.

The report found that 52 percent of all Hispanics in the work force were employed in service, agriculture, construction, maintenance and repair. Those mostly lower-paying jobs account for 30 percent of Idaho’s jobs.

Management and professional services jobs make up 31 percent of Idaho jobs, but the report said only 13 percent of Hispanics work in those areas.

“The state must pursue policies and initiatives that help all of Idaho’s workers secure the education, training and skills to improve their lives, command higher wages and increase employer profitability,” said Roger Madsen, director of Idaho Commerce and Labor.

Estela Gonzalez, vice chairwoman of the Hispanic commission, who also runs the Kootenai County Hispanic Ministry, has lived in North Idaho for 23 years. She said that the 80 to 90 Hispanics who took part in a recent church retreat easily outnumbered those who took part in the first church retreat 20 years ago.

“Probably just three or four,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve grown a lot.”