WASHINGTON – The United States is a country whose youth population is browning while its White population is heavily concentrated in older age brackets. According to recent census data, 35 percent of the U.S. population is non-White. And while discussing the enormous demographic shift that the country is experiencing, people often refer to the year 2042 when the U.S. will be a majority-minority country. In essence, much of that change is already here.
As Ronald Brownstein, veteran journalist and political director of National Journal Group media company, pointed out Thursday during a National Journal policy summit on demographics and the workforce of the future, currently 65 percent of the population is White, compared to 70 percent in 2000 and 80 percent in 1980. The changes are even more profound among younger age cohorts. Generation Y, aged 30 and under, is two-fifths non-White, as is 45 percent of the population under 18. In addition, minority children comprised 49 percent of births in the past year, noted Brownstein, who moderated the policy summit.
These changing demographics will greatly impact American life overall, but even more so African-Americans and Hispanics who will make up much of the future workforce. Will they be ready?
The current reality is that Black and Hispanic children in the U.S. lag far behind their White and Asian counterparts in school, and their high school graduation rates are much lower.
A member of the expert panel at the National Journal summit, Amy Wilkins, vice president of government affairs and communications at the Education Trust organization, said that considerable progress has been made at the elementary school level and that the achievement gaps between minority and White children are smaller than they have ever been.
“On the other end, we have an enormous problem. College going and college graduation gaps between Whites and kids of color are bigger than they’ve ever been when the premium on getting a degree is higher than it’s ever been,” she noted, adding that there must be greater focus on getting minority students to and through college.
