Finding Your Workforce: Latino Talent for a Global Economy

For 20 years, Excelencia in Education has served its mission to accelerate Latino student success in higher education in order to address the country’s need for a highly educated workforce and civic leadership. "Finding Your Workforce: Latino Talent for a Global Economy" represents the latest extension of Excelencia’s hallmark work of bringing national attention to higher education institutions and practices advancing Latino talent, strengthening our economy, and ensuring America’s future.

Latinos have the highest labor force participation, with 66 percent of those 16 years and older in the labor force, and demonstrates they will account for 91 percent of new workers — the largest number of any group — and one in five workers overall by 2031. However, Latinos are the most likely to be employed in manual labor occupations and earn the lowest salary compared to other groups.

This brief presents Excelencia’s roadmap for both employers and institutions to take action to ensure America’s future by advancing Latino talent.

The top institutions awarding credentials at each level are:

• NUC University in Puerto Rico (Certificate)
• Miami Dade College in Florida (Associate)
• Florida International University in Florida (Baccalaureate and Master’s)
• Nova Southeastern University in Florida (First Professional and Doctorate)

Strategies for institutions and employers to link Latino graduates to the workforce include:

1. Invest in high-wage, high-demand career pathways by developing stackable credentials in collaboration with employers and funding short-term career programs.
2. Provide transition services between completion and employment or graduate school, including financial and mental health support.
3. Connect the Latino talent pipeline to employers by recruiting graduates for internal employment opportunities and leveraging partnerships with employers.

Suggested Citation: Santiago, D., Labandera, E., Arroyo, C., & Nour, S.R. (February 2024). Finding Your Workforce: Latino Talent for a Global Economy. Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education.

This brief initiates a series that highlights the top institutions graduating Latinos in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), health, and education, accompanied by examples of institutional efforts to improve Latinos’ college completion linked to these sectors.