LaRed Latina of the Intermountain Southwest.
Phoenix, Arizona:
Regional Demographics
- According to recent Census studies, Phoenix's metropolitan population is close to 2.5 million and is projected to exceed 3 million by the year 2005. The Phoenix/Maricopa MSA, (Metropolitan Statistical area ) the eighteenth largest in the U.S., consists of Phoenix,(County Seat) Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Scottsdale, Sun City, and Tempe, home of Arizona State University. Along with Utah, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico, Arizona has been rated as one of the fastest growing states in the union.
- With a median age of 32, Metro Phoenix has a relatively young and dynamic workforce. Currently the total labor force exceeds one million or 65 percent of the Arizona workforce. For the past five years, Phoenix's work force has increased an ave
rage of 4.5 percent, which is well above the national average.
- As the home of State Capitol and Maricopa county seat, Phoenix is the largest government employer in Arizona. There are over 140,000 government workers and public sector employees within the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area.
- The Phoenix MSA accounts for over 59 percent of Arizona's 3.9 million residents.
- Pheonix also has a highly educated population. The Phoenix's MSA's 80.2 High School, and 23.7 College graduation rates significantly exceed the National average which is 75.2 and 20.3 percent respectively.
- Since 1994, according to University of Arizona Studies, Phoenix's job growth has steadily increased an average of 6.5 Percent or close to 40,000 jobs a year. These studies also indicate a strong and robust economy in the" Valley of the Sun,"
and forecast steady and continued growth till well after the turn of the century.
- According to the U.S. Census, Hispanics comprise 20 percent of Phoenix's population or close to 500,000 residents.
- Latinos are well represented in every private and public sector of the Phoenix Metropolitan community.
- Although the attrition rate among Latino high school students continues to be relatively high, there is a positive trend in higher education enrollment among youth in the Hispanic community.
- Overall Latinos have been riding the wave of prosperity that Phoenix has been experiencing for the past ten years. This is evidenced by the fact that the middle class has been steadily increasing within the Hispanic Community.