Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in Texas

New research from American Immigration Council underscores the crucial role the Hispanic population plays in Texas’ labor force, population growth, and economy. The new series of factsheets, Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in Texas, were prepared in partnership with the Texas Association of Business and the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC).

Key Findings

• Hispanic Texans are contributing billions in taxes and consumer spending. In 2019, Hispanic households earned $213.7 billion in income, with $32.6 billion going to federal taxes and $18.7 billion going to state and local taxes, leaving them with $162.4 billion in spending power that can be reinvested in local communities. Robust consumer spending by Hispanic households supports small businesses and keeps local economic corridors vibrant.
• Hispanic Texans are helping drive population growth in the state. Between 2010 and 2019, the U.S.-born Hispanic population grew by 26.7 percent, while the foreign-born Hispanic population grew by 8 percent. In 2010, 37.7 percent of the overall population in Texas were Hispanic, that number grew to 39.8 percent in 2019. 
• Hispanic Texans play a crucial role in meeting the state’s workforce needs. In 2019, 66.7 percent of the overall Hispanic population and 66.4 percent of the foreign-born Hispanic population were active in the labor force, compared with 64.1 percent of the non-Hispanic population. 
• Hispanic Texans hold substantial voting power. In 2019, there were nearly 5.7 million eligible Hispanic voters, including more than 960,000 naturalized citizens. Overall, the Hispanic population made up 31.1 percent of the electorate, including Hispanic naturalized citizens, who on their own made up 5.2 percent.

The factsheets are based on American Immigration Council, previously NAE, analysis of the American Community Survey from 2010 and 2019.

More on Hispanic contributions in eight of the state’s largest areas: 

• Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in Austin
• Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in Brownsville
• Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in Dallas and Fort Worth
• Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in El Paso
• Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in Houston
• Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in San Antonio
• Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission Metro Area
• Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in the Rio Grande Valley