Intercity Variations in Puerto Rican Female Participation

Abstract

Of the eight major ethnic/racial groups in the U.S., female labor force participation has declined between 1950 and 1970 for only one-the Puerto Rican group. We begin analyzing the broad question of why Puerto Rican female participation has declined by trying to explain why the Puerto Rican female participation increased in Chicago (+6.1) and yet decreased in New York City (-10.0) between 1960 and 1970. In order to explain this differential change, we examine labor market conditions, socioeconomic characteristics of the Puerto Rican female labor supply, and assimilation factors. This analysis, based on 1970 Census data for cities, clearly shows the importance of labor market conditions.