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Ethnic diversity in Orange County is high. The national
<br />average for an area the size of Orange County is 1,266,735
<br />racially diverse people, while there are 1,910,690 in OC.4
<br />Orange County’s diversity is projected to continue to grow
<br />through 2060. Whites (39%) and Hispanics 5 (34%) make up
<br />the largest percentage of the Orange County population, with
<br />the Hispanic population growth between 2015 and 2020 at
<br />19%, while the white population declined by 4%.6 Growing
<br />diversity will increasingly be a key workforce and economic
<br />development advantage for Orange County. Diversity often creates an environment where the
<br />exchange of ideas, strategies, and viewpoints fuel innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing
<br />to sustained economic success. Racial diversity challenges local education providers and
<br />workforce development to support English learners’ success by improving program support and
<br />creating innovative programs such as vocational ESL programs. Non-English language speakers
<br />represent 45.5% of Orange County residents, which is higher than the national average of 21.9%.
<br />In 2018, Spanish was the most common non-English language spoken, with 24.8% of Orange
<br />County residents being native Spanish speakers. Vietnamese (6.44%) and Chinese (2.94%) are the
<br />second and third most common languages.7
<br />
<br />Industry employment which includes self-employment, private household workers, farm and
<br />nonfarm jobs in Orange County, is projected to reach 1,853,600 by 2026, a 9.3% increase over
<br />the ten-year projection period of 2016 to 2026. Twelve of the 13 nonfarm industry sectors are
<br />projected to grow during this period.
<br />
<br />
<br />Total nonfarm jobs are projected to gain 145,000 jobs by 2026. Significant job growth is projected
<br />in four industry sectors with educational, health services, and social assistance, leading to
<br />4EMSI Labor Market Analytics, 2021, www.economicmodeling.com.
<br />5 EMSI Labor Market Analytics, 2021, www.economicmodeling.com, Hispanic population includes all races that identify as Hispanic.
<br />6 EMSI Labor Market Analytics, 2021, www.economicmodeling.com.
<br />7 Bureau, US Census. “American Community Survey Data Releases.” The United States Census Bureau, 31 July 2020, www.census.gov/programs-
<br />surveys/acs/news/data-releases.2018.html.
<br />1,000
<br />2,800
<br />2,900
<br />3,700
<br />4,100
<br />5,100
<br />5,700
<br />6,700
<br />19,000
<br />27,400
<br />28,200
<br />38,400
<br />Manufacturing
<br />Wholesale Trade
<br />Information
<br />Other Services
<br />Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities
<br />Retail Trade
<br />Financial Activities
<br />Government
<br />Construction
<br />Leisure and Hospitality
<br />Professional and Business Services
<br />Educational Services (Private), Health Care, and Social…
<br />Growth by Industry Sector
<br />Source: EDD Labor Market Information
<br />39%
<br />34%
<br />22%
<br />2%3%
<br />Racial/Ethnic Breakdown 2020
<br />White
<br />Hispanic
<br />Asian
<br />Black
<br />Other
<br />Source:EMSI Labor Market Analytics, 2021
<br />EXHIBIT 1
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