The mission of JSRI is to generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge to serve the needs of Latino communities in the Midwest and across the nation. This mission is crucial as ever, as Latinos are becoming the predominant minority population in the U.S. As of 2023, Latinos were 19.4% of the U.S. population and are projected to reach 26.9% in 2060. In Michigan, Latinos comprise 6% of the total population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates).

The Latino demographic changes contribute to the diversity of the U.S. as a multiethnic society. Despite being socially constructed as one ethnic group, Latinos are not a monolithic social group. They include populations of different ethnic, cultural, and origin backgrounds. In 2023, 58.3% of Latinos in the U.S. were of Mexican origin, 10.9% were Central Americans, 9% Puerto Ricans, 7.9% South Americans, 3.9% Cubans, and 6.4% were other Latinos.

Latino immigration of Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and, more recently, other Latinos from Central and South America continues to diversify different communities in the U.S. The influx of Latinos in new destination communities does not occur by chance. They are pulled by employment opportunities in those areas, such as working on fruit and vegetable farms, dairy farms, and meat-processing industries in the rural Midwest and Southeast (Kandel & Parrado, 2005). Others are seeking refuge to escape violent conflicts (e.g., El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) or extreme poverty and hoping to get better employment opportunities in the U.S. to support their families. Economic restructuring nationwide and globally and associated regulatory processes, including employment discrimination, layoffs, and community resistance, are primary factors that push Latino workers to migrate to different regions in the United States, including the rural Midwest, in search of better opportunities. Other factors include lower housing costs and safer communities.

Moreover, Latinos make significant contributions to the U.S. economy. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that over 5 million Latino-owned businesses operate in the U.S., employing more than 3.5 million workers. These businesses contribute over $800 billion per year to the U.S. economy through sales. The number of Latino-owned companies increased by nearly 1 million from 2018 to 2024 (Siles, NEXO, current issue, see page 5). Latino businesses with employees are concentrated in six key sectors: construction; accommodation and food services; professional, scientific, and technical services; administrative and support services; health care and social assistance; and retail trade.

The needs of Latinos are substantial and vary depending on their social positions in U.S. society. Throughout U.S. history, Latinos have occupied lower social status positions. Their livelihoods are linked to political, economic, and social structures. Despite a higher civilian labor force participation rate (67.4%), Latinos are disproportionately concentrated in the secondary labor market, often holding low-wage jobs. They are substantially overrepresented in office and administrative support, construction and extraction, sales, food preparation and serving, building and grounds cleaning and maintenance, agricultural, and housekeeping occupations. They are most likely to work in the service sector and are least likely to work in jobs that offer employer-provided pensions or health insurance (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Current Population Survey), Annual Social and Economic Supplement). Latinos are more likely to be underemployed and in poverty than non-Latinos (Kayitsinga, NEXO, No. 1, Fall 2024); (Kayitsinga, NEXO, current issue, see page 10). The labor market and social disadvantages among Latinos vary widely. They are partially explained by a lack of skills and low educational attainment on the one hand, and by the labor market opportunity structures in which they reside and work on the other. Undocumented Latino labor migrants experience double disadvantages: 1) they earn poor incomes to support their families here in the U.S. but also in their home countries through remittances; and 2) without legal status, they are vulnerable workers subjected to the most undesirable and low-paying jobs and are at risk of being taken by ICE for deportation.

Latinos experience health risks coupled with significant health care access issues. Despite their low socioeconomic status and health care accessibility challenges, Latinos appear to experience relatively better health compared to non-Latinos, often referred to as the “Hispanic Health Paradox.” One risk factor associated with poor health among Latinos has been obesity. Obesity increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancers, and other chronic conditions that cause disability and premature deaths. The prevalence of obesity is significantly higher among Latinos, especially Mexicans, compared to non-Latino groups. Another risk factor associated with Latino health is discrimination. Discrimination in health among Latinos is particularly salient given the increasing hostility surrounding immigration issues, with migrant and border communities particularly vulnerable. Despite health risks and low socioeconomic status, Latinos experience significant health advantages compared to non-Latinos, including lower early mortality, higher life expectancy, lower rates of cardiovascular disease, and lower rates of cancer. For example, the age-adjusted cardiovascular disease prevalence for Latinos is lower than for non-Latino Blacks or whites. The overall cancer prevalence and mortality rates are lower for Latinos than for non-Latinos.

JSRI is dedicated to engaged research and scholarship that generates, disseminates, and applies evidence-based knowledge that responds to the needs and aspirations of Latino communities in the Midwest and nationwide. More importantly, JSRI seeks to engage with communities in ways that build on their tremendous assets and strengths that enrich the broader American tapestry. As we move toward the next phases of JSRI’s development, we will continue this mission with a particular focus on engaged research that crosses the boundaries of the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and the emerging technologies that serve communities. To this end, JSRI will activate greater collaborations and partnerships across the tremendous intellectual and scholarly resources of Michigan State University, and, in particular, the tremendous work being done in Chicano and Latino studies, Latin American and Caribbean studies, and the scholars in disciplines across the university. We also look forward to collaborations with scholars outside of MSU. Please contact us to discuss ways we can partner.