Michigan Works! Regional Update: Hispanic Population in the Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren Area

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15. Accordingly, this month’s Michigan Works! Regional Update looks at the Hispanic or Latino population in the Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren area. This article uses data from the 2018–2022 5-year estimates from the American Community Survey. Updated 5-year estimates for 2019–2023 are scheduled to be released on December 12.

The total population for the Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren area measured 281,200 in 2022. This accounted for 2.8 percent of Michigan’s total population and was the fourth smallest Michigan Works! area. The region’s population has declined 1.5 percent since 2012, when the population measured just over 285,300. Comparatively, Michigan’s population has increased by 1.6 percent over the period.

Regionally, there were 20,200 Hispanic or Latino persons in the Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren area. This made up 7.2 percent of the region’s total population. Only the West Michigan Works! (9.1 percent) and Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (7.5 percent) areas had a higher share. Statewide, Hispanic or Latino persons made up just 5.5 percent of the statewide population.

Since 2012, there has been a 23.1 percent (+3,800) increase in Hispanic or Latino individuals in the Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren area. This is compared to an increase of 25.6 percent observed statewide. The region had the fourth largest share of Hispanic or Latino individuals in 2012 at 5.8 percent. This was behind the West Michigan Works! (7.7 percent), DESC (6.9 percent), and Capital Area Michigan Works! (6.1 percent) areas. The statewide share measured 4.4 percent in 2012.

Those who are Mexican accounted for 81.0 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population in the Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren area. This was significantly greater than the 69.6 percent share observed statewide. Puerto Rican individuals accounted for 5.1 percent of the region’s Hispanic or Latino population, 4.1 percentage points lower than the statewide share.

The Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren area has a larger share of Mexican individuals than the state.

Share of Hispanic or Latino Individuals by Ethnicity

Source: 2018–2022 Five-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau