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Disparities by Race and Ethnicity in the Twin Cities, 2012 <br />Measure <br />White, non - <br />Latino <br />Persons of <br />color <br />Rank of <br />disparity <br />among 25 <br />largest metro <br />areas4 <br />Percentage of population age 25+ with a high school <br />diploma <br />96.3 % <br />78.3 % <br />3 <br />Percentage of civilian working -age population that is <br />employed <br />79.4 % <br />64.8% 1 <br />Percentage above poverty threshold <br />93.6 % 74.3 % 1 <br />Per capita income <br />$37,943 $18,078 4 <br />Percentage of householders who own their homes <br />75.8 % 37.0 % 1 <br />These disparities are growing at the same time the share of our region's population of color is <br />growing. In 2010, 24% of our region's population was people of color; by 2040, 40% of our <br />region's residents are expected to be people of color. The share of people of color increases <br />among younger age groups; 54 percent of residents under age 18 will be people of color in <br />2040. Eliminating these disparities, on the other hand, can have dramatic benefits. If everyone <br />in the Twin Cities in 2040 enjoyed the same socioeconomic profile as white non -Latino people <br />do today, the social and economic impact would be significant. Compared to the disparities <br />continuing unabated, there would be: <br />• 171,000 more people with a high school diploma; <br />• 124,000 more people with jobs; <br />• 274,000 fewer people in poverty; <br />• an additional $31.8 billion in income; and <br />• 186,000 more homeowners.5 <br />The combined impact of increased employment, income and homeownership would go far to <br />close today's disparities in wealth by race and ethnicity. Nearly all of our region's net workforce <br />growth over the next three decades will come from residents of color. In short, all residents of <br />the Twin Cities region need access to opportunity if the region is to have a healthy and <br />prosperous future. <br />Using our influence and investments to build a more equitable region <br />The Metropolitan Council will use equity as a lens to evaluate its operations, planning, and <br />investments, and explore its authority to use its resources and roles to mitigate the place -based <br />dimension of racial, ethnic and income -based disparities. <br />4 The ranks account for certain differences across metropolitan areas to make them more comparable. <br />5 These figures are Metropolitan Council staff calculations based on 2007-2011 American Community <br />Survey data for the 7-county Twin Cities region and the Metropolitan Council's Revised Regional <br />Forecast to 2040 (February 2014). <br />DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT <br />Last revised: February 21, 2014 20 <br />