Data Summaries
United States
America’s demography is changing—and the nation’s economic fate will hinge on how we respond to these changes. As the population grows more diverse and people of color become the majority, equity—just and fair inclusion—has become an urgent economic imperative. Reversing the trends of rising inequality and stagnant wages, and ensuring that everyone can participate and prosper are critical to build a strong, competitive economy in the decades to come.
The National Equity Atlas also provides data for the nation’s 100 largest cities, 150 largest regions, and all 50 states. To see data for your state, region, or city, please enter it in the text box above. For a list of the cities and regions included in the Atlas, see here.
Regions and states are equitable when all residents—regardless of their race/ethnicity, nativity, neighborhood of residence, or other characteristics—are fully able to participate in the community’s economic vitality, contribute to its readiness for the future, and connect to its assets and resources.
America’s demography is changing—and the nation’s economic fate will hinge on how we respond to these changes. As the population grows more diverse and people of color become the majority, equity—fair and just inclusion—has become an urgent economic imperative. While rising diversity and widening inequality are nationwide trends, they vary widely across America’s cities, metropolitan regions, and states. The National Equity Atlas provides data for the nation’s 100 largest cities, 150 largest regions, and all 50 states.
This summary describes how your selected region or state is doing on several key indicators in comparison to the national trends.
Cities are equitable when all residents—regardless of their race/ethnicity, nativity, neighborhood of residence, or other characteristics—are fully able to participate in the community’s economic vitality, contribute to its readiness for the future, and connect to its assets and resources.
America’s demography is changing—and the nation’s economic fate will hinge on how we respond to these changes. As the population grows more diverse and people of color become the majority, equity—fair and just inclusion—has become an urgent economic imperative. While rising diversity and widening inequality are nationwide trends, cities often lead on both fronts. They are also an important level of government at which equity-enhancing policies can be implemented and tested, leading positive change in their broader regions, states, and in the nation as a whole.
This summary describes how your selected city is doing on several key indicators in comparison to the national trends.
The Face of America is Changing
Diversity is increasing
America is becoming a true world nation that is increasingly multiracial and multicultural. In 1980, 80 percent of the population was White. By 2044, a majority of Americans will be people of color.
Racial economic gaps are wide and persistent
Rising inequality disproportionately affects workers of color, who are concentrated in low-wage jobs that provide few opportunities for economic security or upward mobility. Workers of color consistently earn lower wages and are more likely to be jobless compared to their white counterparts, and racial gaps remain even among workers with similar education levels. Nationwide, full-time workers of color currently earn 23 percent less than their white counterparts—the gap is slightly more than in 1979, and is growing rather than shrinking.
Median hourly wage by race/ethnicity:
A workforce unprepared for the jobs of the future
America’s future jobs will require ever-higher levels of skills and education, but our education and job training systems are not adequately preparing the Latinos, African Americans, and other workers of color who are growing as a share of the workforce to succeed in the knowledge-driven economy. Nationally, by 2020, 43.1 percent of all jobs will require an Associate’s degree or higher. Today, only 26.7 percent of U.S.-born Latinos, 25.9 percent of African Americans and 14.1 percent of Latino immigrants, have that level of education.