July 22 2019
General

Capital Region Minority Population Continues to Grow 

Robust growth among minorities over the past five years is accelerating the diversification of the Capital Region’s racial and ethnic makeup, according to a Center for Economic Growth (CEG) analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau estimates. 

Minority Growth 

In 2018, the Capital Region had an estimated 202,663 minorities (non-white only), up 19 percent from five years earlier. Albany County drove that growth with a 23,602 gain (up 37 percent) in minorities, followed by Schenectady County at 14,188 (up 52 percent), Saratoga County (up 79 percent) at 10,030 and Rensselaer County at 9,680 (up 54 percent). Warren County’s minority population nearly doubled (up 94 percent), though minorities only constitute 6 percent of its population, the lowest concentration in the region. 

Minorities in the Capital Region Maps

Regional Growth by Race 

The number of blacks in the region rose over the last five years by 6 percent to 79,167 and the number of Asians rose by 16 percent to 41,806. The ranks of people of two or more races rose by 9 percent to 23,149 and Hispanics of any race were up 13 percent to 55,511. The number of whites declined by 5.6 percent to 882,278.  

Despite this growth, the Capital Region remains less racially diverse when compared to other regions. For example the Capital Region is 81 percent white, compared to upstate at 76 percent, the Northeast at 66 percent and the United States at 60 percent.   

Race Diversity in Select Regions Chart Capital Region Growth by Race Chart

CEG Activities 

To help grow the Capital Region and make it more diverse, CEG is involved in the following activities: 

  • KeyBank Business Boost & Build (KBBB): CEG supports minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) and disadvantaged small businesses by hosting workshops and one-on-one consultations and providing technical support through this program funded by KeyBank. 
  • Partnering with the Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy to pursue a branding campaign for the creative economy that will appeal to talent both inside and outside the region as well as across races and ethnicities. 
  • Leveraging its Talent Connect program to connect talent recited from outside the region with cultural and other resources that can help them better acclimate to their new home. 
  • Launching the Veteran Connect Center to attract to the region transitioning service members stationed around the word and to retain the veterans already here. 
  • Bringing talent to the region by representing Capital Region employers at job fairs throughout the Northeast. 
  • Attracting companies and talent to the region by representing the region’s key industries, such as semiconductor, life sciences, game development and clean tech, at trade conferences worldwide. 
  • Sponsoring the Capital Region’s first Manufacturing Intermediary Apprenticeship Program to help local manufacturers build their talent pipelines for high-skill positions. 

 

Don’t miss these insights into the trends that are shaping the Capital Region’s economy. Sign up for CEG’s e-news and follow us on:

 
More Articles

Funding Partners