Baltimore City African American Middle Class Analysis

and Metrics

Matthew KachuraProgram Manager

BNIA-JFI, University of BaltimoreJanuary 10, 2008

BNIA-JFI

• Part of the Jacob France Institute of the University of Baltimore

• Collects, analyzes, and disseminates over 40 socioeconomic indicators for Baltimore City.

• Most recognized for Vital Signs• Specialize in:

– Economic & Workforce Development– Geographic Information Services– Program Evaluation– Data and Information

Methodology

• Review of existing Baltimore City African American Middle Class research

• Analysis of Baltimore City African American Middle Class– Creation of metrics for comparison (8 focus areas)– Comparison of racial groups

(African American and white)– Comparison of middle class groups (charts & maps)

Analysis Methodology

• Primary data sources: – 2000 Census, 5% Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)– 2002 Survey of Minority Owned Businesses– Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey– Maryland Higher Education Commission

• Definitions:– Middle Income is defined as earning income between

$35,000 and $75,000– African Americans and whites do not include Hispanic

persons– Households are all persons occupying a housing unit and

does not require them to be related.

Metrics Focus Areas• Demographics

– Population– Sex– Households

• Income– Per capita– Median household– Persons below poverty– Income from other sources

• Employment– Percent not in labor force– Unemployed– Occupations

• Housing– Homeownership– Value of home– Mortgages

• Transit– Method of commute– Travel time to work

• Health Insurance– Percentage without health insurance

• Education– Educational attainment– Enrollment trends– Graduation rates

• Minority Owned Business– Number of firms– Number of employees– Total sales

Primary Finding

Baltimore City has a sizeable African American middle class but significant gaps exist between

African American and white residents.

Demographics - PopulationPercent of Population Earning Below $35,000

88%

10%

78%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

African American GAP White

Percent of Population - Middle Class

11%

6%

17%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

African American GAP White

Percent of Population Earning Above $75,000

1%

4%

5%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

African American GAP White

Percent of Households Earning Below $35,000

62%

15%

47%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

African American GAP White

Percent of Households - Middle Class

29%

4%

33%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

African American GAP White

Percent of Households Earning Above $75,000

9%

11%

20%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

African American GAP White

Demographics - Households

Income

• Per capitaAfrican American - $13,123

White - $25,139

• Median householdAfrican American - $26,202

White - $37,054

• Persons below povertyAfrican American – 27%

White – 13%

Percentage of Persons Receiving Income from Interest/Dividends - Total

10%

32%

42%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

African American GAP White

Percentage of Persons Receiving Income from Interest/Dividends - Middle Class

13%

29%

42%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

African American GAP White

Employment

Percent Unemployed - Total

14%

9%

5%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

African American GAP White

Percent Not in Labor Force - Total

45%

4%

41%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

African American GAP White

AfricanAmerican White GAP

Administrative Support Workers 21% 16% 5%Service Workers, except Protective 21% 10% 11%Sales Workers 9% 10% 1%Other Professional Workers 8% 18% 10%Production Operative Workers 6% 4% 2%Transportation and Material Moving Operative Workers 6% 3% 2%Management, Business and Financial Workers 6% 12% 6%Laborers and Helpers 5% 3% 2%Protective Service Workers 4% 2% 2%Installation, Maintenance and Repair Craft Workers 3% 4% 1%Technicians 3% 2% 0%Construction and Extractive Craft Workers 3% 4% 2%Healthcare Practitioner Professionals 2% 5% 3%Science, Engineering and Computer Professionals 2% 6% 4%

Source: Census

Occupations of Baltimore City Residents, 2000

Employment – Middle Class Occupations

African American • Elementary & Middle

School Teachers – 1,338• Driver/Sales Workers &

Truck Drivers – 1,181• Registered Nurses – 1,071• Managers of Office &

Admin Support Workers – 974

• Social Workers - 921

White• Registered Nurses – 1,313• Postsecondary Teachers –

1,087• Elementary & Middle

School Teachers – 942• Accountants & Auditors –

887• Lawyers - 794

Housing - Homeownership

Homeownership - Total

50%

17%

67%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

African American GAP White

Homeownership - Middle Class

66%

7%

73%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

African American GAP White

Housing – Home Value

Percent of Homes Valued Over $90,000 - Total

11%

25%

36%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

African American GAP White

Percent of Homes Valued Over $90,000 - Middle Class

12%

22%

34%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

African American GAP White

Education - AttainmentPercentage of Persons with a Bachelor's Degree -

Total

6%

11%

17%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

African American GAP White

Percentage of Persons with a Bachelor's Degree - Middle Class

17%

11%

28%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

African American GAP White

Percentage of Persons with a Graduate/Professional Degree - Total

4%

12%

16%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

African American GAP White

Percentage of Persons with a Graduate/Professional Degree - Middle Class

14%

15%

29%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

African American GAP White

Education – Graduation Rates

• All Maryland Public Colleges & Universities – Total – 38%– African American – 19%– White – 49%

• Towson– Total – 38%– African American – 32%– White – 41%

• UMBC– Total – 32%– African American – 22%– White – 35%

• Coppin– Total – 6%– African American – 6%– White – NA

• Morgan – Total – 12%– African American – 12%– White - NA

Minority Owned Businesses

• Percent of firms:– African American – 28%– Women Owned – 35%

• Percentage of employer firms:– African American – 7%– Women Owned – 16%

• Percentage of Employment– African American – 3%– Women Owned – 4%

Summary

• Baltimore City has an existing African American middle class population.

• Significant gaps exist between the races.– Income– Wealth (homeownership and home value)– Education

• In order to retain, grow, and attract an African American middle class policies to address these gaps need to be created.

410-837-6651

http://www.ubalt.edu/bnia/