April 18, 2012
CONNECTICUT’S LATINO RESIDENTS SEE REDUCED
ACCESS TO JOBS, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION;
LESS FINANCIAL SECURITY AND GROWING DISCRIMINATION
Socio-Economic Study Reveals Erosion In Quality Of Life Across Many Measures
A newly completed comprehensive statewide survey of Connecticut’s Latino population undertaken by the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission reveals a community increasingly under siege from the economic downturn and diminished prospects for progress in critical areas including jobs, education and healthcare. The study points to “declines in socio-economic conditions in most areas,” including key aspects of daily life where the “declines are significant.”
State Representative Juan Candelaria (D-New Haven) said, “I cannot stress enough the importance of equitable representation in government if we are to move forward as a community. I will continue to work with colleagues toward the day where we do not need socio-economic studies because the Latino community will be doing as well as mainstream society.”
The study revealed that:
Regarding their overall quality of life, 28.3% said that when compared with two years ago, it was either “the same, but poor” or “worse.” That is double the percentage offering those responses in 2007 (14%).
In this year’s survey, 13.8% said their salary declined over the past year, more than triple the number having that experience in 2007 (3.5%).
Those who said they were “unemployed” or “looking for work” totaled 12% - more than double the percentage (4.8%) in 2007.
The number of people holding 3 jobs quadrupled to 2.9%, from 0.7% in 2007 and 0.5% in 2002.
Only half of all respondents (49.9%) indicated they are better off financially today than they were 2 years ago – down significantly from 79.4% who gave that response in 2000 and 68.1% in 2002.
Among those who own their own business or would like to do so, less than half (42.4%) indicated they would know where to go for advice or financial help to begin or expand a business.