July 20, 2008
hispanic baby boom creates new opportunities
It’s interesting to see an emerging trend we’ve known about for some time finally making mainstream news. Articles, editorials and blogs are buzzing about the population trends that show it is births, not immigration, accounting for most of the growth in the United States Hispanic population.
The arrival of Hispanics in remote and rural areas far from traditional gateways has been going on for years. What’s new is a pronounced demographic shift unfolding because these young immigrants are having children. Births outnumber deaths, and the population increases. That’s due largely in part because Hispanic moms are younger than the U.S. population as a whole. Their median age is 27.4, compared with 37.9 overall.
What will this mean in the future?
For one thing, the economic impact will be a positive. The U.S. is gearing up to support 79 million Baby Boomers in their old age, the growing and younger population of Hispanics ensures that the next generation as it grows will contribute greatly to the workforce, the tax revenue and the housing market. Other countries simply are not replacing themselves demographically, according to some researchers.
I think of all the opportunities this is already opening up for innovative companies. The only way these corporations are able to stay ahead of the innovation curve is by recognizing the global impact of megatrends and by knowing their consumers on a deeper level. Hispanic women lead the AlphaMom market in many ways and they are an important segment for marketers to understand.
Those who have tapped into the Hispanic mom’s feelings about motherhood, the challenges she faces, how to reach her, the impact of acculturation on her decisions and what motivates her as a consumer will ultimately deliver the innovative products and services that will shape our culture in the U.S. for decades to come.


