Economy and Workforce
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity

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Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21

What does this measure?

The number of workers who are professional, broken down by race/ethnicity expressed as a percentage of total workers. People with occupations traditionally considered "white collar" - including doctors, lawyers, scientists, programmers, managers and office workers - are considered professionals.

Why is this important?

Workers who are professional may have higher levels of education, increased income opportunities and more workplace autonomy in comparison to low- and middle-skill wage laborers. The share of workers who are professional can be taken as a partial indication for how many workers within a particular group are achieving some version of the "American Dream" of social mobility grounded in a skilled, stable career path. This reflects on how equitable the opportunity structure may be within a given community or region.

How is our region doing?

There were wide disparities by race and ethnicity in 2017-21. While nearly half (44%) of Asian workers were professionals, with white workers not far behind (42%), this share dipped to 30% for African American workers, and fell even more to 23% for Hispanic workers.

Why do these disparities exist?

There are many reasons why disparities may occur. In addition to the general effects of current and historical racial and ethnic discrimination, career and educational choices and pathways are influenced by family financial resources, personal social networks that connect to specific workplaces, and the availability of visible role models to let young people know that particular career paths are open and achievable to people like them. Language issues or immigration status may also be playing a role in the comparatively low rates for Hispanic workers.

Notes about the data

Multiyear data are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample. The American Community Survey combines five years of responses to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the first quarter.

Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Massachusetts43.4%27.9%20.4%40.1%
Region44.8%30.2%23.4%42.4%
Middlesex County47.7%32.3%24.0%46.1%
Norfolk County44.2%30.8%30.0%45.5%
Worcester County44.8%28.9%20.7%39.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau




Number of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Massachusetts209,528143,519176,1022,091,241
Region130,57763,14564,357895,974
Middlesex County78,95723,76329,631419,171
Norfolk County44,20629,48216,655293,198
Worcester County33,13114,26623,540311,650

Source: U.S. Census Bureau




Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Massachusetts43.4%27.9%20.4%40.1%
Region44.8%30.2%23.4%42.4%
Middlesex County47.7%32.3%24.0%46.1%
Norfolk County44.2%30.8%30.0%45.5%
Worcester County44.8%28.9%20.7%39.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau




Number of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Massachusetts209,528143,519176,1022,091,241
Region130,57763,14564,357895,974
Middlesex County78,95723,76329,631419,171
Norfolk County44,20629,48216,655293,198
Worcester County33,13114,26623,540311,650

Source: U.S. Census Bureau




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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