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Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders had a higher labor force participation rate than Asians

May 23, 2014

The month of May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show labor force trends of two race categories—Asians, and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders—over the last 10 years. In 2013, the labor force participation rate of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders was 70.0 percent, higher than that of the total population (63.2 percent) and all Asians (64.6 percent).

Annual labor force participation rates for the total population, Asians, and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, 2003–2013
Race20032004200520062007200820092010201120122013

Total population

66.266.066.066.266.066.065.464.764.163.763.2

Asian, total

66.465.966.166.266.567.066.064.764.663.964.6

Asian Indian

72.072.070.470.569.569.569.969.269.667.368.0

Chinese

64.862.563.664.765.765.864.363.763.762.862.8

Filipino

73.370.370.871.872.874.169.767.268.767.468.5

Japanese

58.062.763.962.060.458.455.755.354.556.458.2

Korean

61.260.560.760.960.661.360.159.260.059.060.5

Vietnamese

64.266.165.665.365.366.067.765.563.165.064.9

Other Asian

68.067.566.666.065.766.566.964.963.463.263.5

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

68.971.873.474.573.072.569.468.469.471.470.0

Asians can be further broken out into 7 different Asian groups. Among these groups, rates ranged between 68.5 percent for Filipinos and 58.2 percent for Japanese. In part, these differences in labor force participation reflect differences in the characteristics of each group. For example, Japanese—who generally have relatively low participation rates—have an older age profile than other Asian groups.

The unemployment rates of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders have been above that of the total population and Asians for the past several years; in 2013, the unemployment rate for this group was 10.2 percent, compared with 7.4 percent for the total population and 5.2 percent for Asians. Among the Asian groups, unemployment rates in 2013 varied from 4.4 percent for Japanese to 7.1 percent for Other Asians. In general, the unemployment rate for Japanese has tended to be among the lowest rates, and the rate for Other Asians has been among the highest rates. (Other Asians include individuals who reported an Asian group not listed and those who reported two or more Asian groups.)

Annual unemployment rates for the total population, Asians, and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, 2003–2013
Race20032004200520062007200820092010201120122013

Total population

6.05.55.14.64.65.89.39.68.98.17.4

Asian, total

6.04.44.03.03.24.07.37.57.05.95.2

Asian Indian

6.04.43.73.33.34.36.76.66.25.34.6

Chinese

5.54.54.23.22.83.06.26.55.85.24.4

Filipino

6.04.33.62.93.94.07.48.58.56.45.8

Japanese

3.52.72.21.91.72.94.84.64.33.83.3

Korean

3.63.13.52.03.33.98.56.46.34.75.3

Vietnamese

8.45.84.83.13.53.97.57.66.85.95.0

Other Asian

8.15.95.74.23.85.59.410.39.68.47.1

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

7.76.14.35.34.86.410.812.010.411.810.2
These data are from the Current Population Survey. For more information, view this CPS section on race and ethnicity groups.
SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders had a higher labor force participation rate than Asians at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2014/ted_20140523.htm (visited October 31, 2024).

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