Latino Immigrants in Idaho: Income and Entrepreneurial Development
Grant
Overview
abstract
Latino population in Idaho continues to increase as a result of high immigration and birth rates. Despite this growth, we know little about factors that hinder or promote Latino immigrant income and entrepreneurial development in Idaho. The number of Latino-owned businesses is on the rise and Latino purchasing-power is increasing. However, household income of Latinos is 25 percent below that of white non-Latino. This household income appears to be related to larger household size, low educational attainment and demographic factors, among others. This applied research will quantify socioeconomic factors that hinder or favor Latino immigrant income and entrepreneurship. Such information can help develop specific interventions and educational programs to build the capacity of immigrants to increase their productivity and output in different sectors
and enhance their integration to rural and urban communities. Two interrelated research foci are proposed: 1) identification of factors that determine Latino immigrant wages, self-employment and business income in different sectors, and 2) development of educational programs to enhance immigrants' adaptation to labor markets, entrepreneurial and leadership skills to reduce the income gap.
