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Puerto Rican Poverty and Labor Markets: An Introduction

Fordham University

Edwin Melendez

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This article provides an introduction to the special issue of the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences on Puerto Rican Poverty and Labor Markets. It proposes that the unifying theme of the articles included in this volume is the focus on how structural factors, particularly in the functioning of labor markets, affect Puerto Ricans'disadvantaged socioeconomic status in the United States. Among the most important factors presented in the volume are: the concentration of Puerto Ricans in cities and regions (e.g., New York City, Chicago) that have undergone a rapid transition from a goods-producing economy to a service-oriented one; limited opportunities in housing markets that, in turn, limit the kinds and numbers of job opportunities that are available, quality of schools, and the quality of public services; and, the persistence of racial and gender discrimination. Other important topics examined in the special issue are the conceptualization of poverty and the poor, and welfare dependency. The authors conclude that the articles in the volume strongly support the view that Puerto Rican poverty largely results from the circumstances in which this population lives and works.

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