Census: Median household & family income in PR showed little change in 2022
By The Star Staff
During calendar year 2022, median household income in Puerto Rico increased slightly, by about $76, while median family income fell by $363 from what was reported in 2021, according to the most recent Community Survey data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, which covers calendar year 2022.
“The survey information gives us a recent overview of our society. Several of the indicators contrast, such as the reduction in the unemployment rate, while incomes (in households and relatives) remained unchanged substantially,” said Alberto Velázquez Estrada, manager of statistical projects at the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, in a written statement. “On the other hand, estimates on net emigration showed a reduction for the third consecutive year since the post-hurricane emigration peak of 2018.”
As a local liaison with the U.S. Census Bureau, the statistics institute shared several findings from the new 2022 survey data:
The estimate of median household and family income showed no significant change, going from $24,036 to $24,112 in households, and from $29,907 to $29,544 in families.
This represented a change in household income of 0.3% and -1.3% in families.
In relation to the migratory indicators on Puerto Rico, the estimates for 2022 showed the following changes compared to the most recent year of available information (2021):
About 16,000 people out-migrated to other jurisdictions of the United States in net terms, meaning a decrease compared to the previous year available (2021) when the net balance was close to 27,000 people out-migrating.
Some 26,989 people migrated to the island from the mainland United States, reflecting a slight decrease in migration of -1.4% compared to 2021, where an in-migration of 27,380 people was estimated.
In the other direction, some 42,990 people out-migrated from Puerto Rico to other jurisdictions in the United States, showing a decrease of 21.4% compared to the figure for 2021, which was 54,669 people.
Compared to the previous year 2021, during 2022 the following selected socioeconomic characteristics about Puerto Rico reflected statistically significant changes:
* The unemployment rate fell from 13.1% to 9.9% while the labor force increased by about 3.4%.
* On the other hand, the percentages related to poverty increased in individuals (40.5% to 41.7%), in those under 18 years of age (54.9% to 57.6%) and in families (36.7% to 38.8%).
* The percentage of grandparents who are responsible for their grandchild under 18 increased about seven points, from 31.8% to 38.8%.
* Among the total population aged 25 and older, the percentages of people with a high school level or higher increased (79.6% to 81.7%), as well as people with a bachelor’s degree level or higher (28.5% to 29.8%).