No significant change in income in households and families in Puerto Rico

PRESS RELEASE

PUERTO RICO STATE DATA CENTER NETWORK (SDC-PR)

No significant change in income in households and families in Puerto Rico

Based on the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Community Survey

San Juan, PR, September 14, 2022 — During the calendar year 2022, the median household income in Puerto Rico increased slightly, about $76, while the median family income fell by $363 compared to what was reported in 2021. This is revealed by the most recent Community Survey data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, covering the 2022 calendar year. As a local liaison entity with the U.S. Census Bureau, the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics shared several findings from the new 2022 survey data:

1. The estimated median income for households and families showed no significant change, 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.
2. Regarding the migratory indicators for Puerto Rico, the estimates for 2022 showed the following changes compared to the most recent year of available information (2021):
   • Nearly 16,000 people immigrated to other jurisdictions in the United States in net terms, a decrease compared to the previous available year (2021) where the net balance was close to 27,000 people emigrating.
   • Some 26,989 people immigrated from the United States, reflecting a slight decrease in immigrants of -1.4% compared to 2021, where an estimated immigration of 27,380 people was estimated.
   • In the other direction, some 42,990 people 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.
3. Compared to the previous year 2021, during 2022, the following selected socioeconomic characteristics of 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 or granddaughter under 18 increased about seven points from 31.8% to 38.8%.
   • Among the total population aged 25 and over, the percentage of people with a higher education level or higher increased (79.6% to 81.7%), as well as those with a baccalaureate level or higher (28.5% to 29.8%).

“The survey information provides us with a recent overview of our society. Several of the indicators contrast with the reduction in the unemployment rate, while incomes (in households and families) remained unchanged. On the other hand, net emigration estimates were reduced for the third consecutive year since the post-hurricane emigration peak of 2018,” said Alberto L. Velázquez-Estrada, Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute.

The main difference between household income and family income is that household income is considered to be the income of the head of household and any other individual in the household aged 15 years or older, even if not related to the head of the household. Family income, on the other hand, considers the income of all individuals in the household aged 15 years or older than if they are related to the head of the household.

Velázquez also indicated that as the leading entity of the Puerto Rico SDC, the Institute manages the SDC page, which contains the main statistical reports and publications of the U.S. Census Bureau on Puerto Rico, specifically those that are most in demand, such as annual population estimates; the Puerto Rico Community Survey (Puerto Rico Community Survey) and official statistics on Puerto Rico's decennial population and housing censuses, among others.

For more details, data and information about the 2022 Community Survey and previous years, interested parties can access: data.census.gov. The Puerto Rico State Data Center (SDC) page can be accessed at: https://censo.estadisticas.pr/.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity responsible for coordinating the Government's statistical production service to ensure that the data collection and statistics systems, on which public policies are based, are complete, reliable, and have quick and universal access.

For more information you can visit the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov on social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

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Date: September 13, 2023

To add an Article 11 to Act No. 81 of March 14, 1912, as amended, so that the Puerto Rico Department of Health provides, free of charge and publicly, information on the execution of public and private hospital institutions; and for other purposes.

Date: September 7, 2023

To add a new Article 8 and renumber the current Articles 8 and 9 as the new Articles 9 and 10 of Law 184-2012, as amended, known as the “Act for Compulsory Mediation and Preservation of Your Home in Primary Home Foreclosure Processes”, in order to promote better and greater collection and publication of statistical information on cases related to compulsory mediation; and for other related purposes.

Date: August 25, 2023

P. de la C. 1648: To amend Article 2.02 of Law 168-2019, known as the “Weapons Act of 2020”, as amended, to set limits on the number of ammunition that can be purchased in a calendar year and to amend the amount of ammunition purchased by a person that will activate the duty of armories to notify the Arms License Office of the Police Bureau, as well as the powers of the Police to investigate the purchasers of the ammunition.

Date: August 11, 2023

To amend Section 10 of Act No. 15 of April 1931, as amended, known as the “Organic Law of the Department of Labor and Human Resources”, for the purpose of ordering the Department of Labor and Human Resources of Puerto Rico to use, in the surveys conducted by the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Labor and Human Resources, in the Population Census and in any other survey carried out for these purposes to measure food security, the Scale to Measure Food Security for Puerto Rico designed by the Graduate School of Public Health of the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico; add a line to any survey carried out for the purpose of knowing how many women are heads of household; and for other related purposes.

50% of farmers changed crops in the last five years due to production problems

50% of farmers changed crops in the last five years due to production problems

This is evidenced in the Puerto Rican Farmer Profile Study

San Juan, Puerto Rico. August 3, 2023. The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute), presented the results of The Puerto Rican Farmer Profile Study, whose main objective was to collect information, data and statistics about farmers, their crops and incentives received by the Department of Agriculture, the federal government or the private sector. This was done as part of the Food Production and Demand Index Institute project for Puerto Rico. Among the most important aspects included in the survey are the collection of sociodemographic information, and possible barriers and challenges currently faced by farmers in Puerto Rico. In the same way, the study that can be accessed at Agriculture, under the “Farmer Profile” menu or tab, includes some comments from the farmers surveyed.

As for the Socio-Demographic Data obtained:

• 66% of the farmers who participated in the survey identified themselves as men.
• On the other hand, 34% of those who participated in the survey identified themselves as women.
• The age group most represented by the farmers who participated in the survey was 55-59 years old.

• 35% of the farmers who participated indicated that they had a baccalaureate degree.
• 27% of the farmers who participated in the survey indicated that they had an annual income between $25,000 and $49,999.

Related to the Agricultural infrastructure the following data were obtained:

• 85% of the study participants identified themselves as farmers, while 14% identified themselves as farmers and 1% as others.
• 42% of the study participants indicated that they had been in the agricultural industry for more than 10 years and 34% indicated that they had been in the agricultural industry for 1 to 6 years.
• In the farinaceous sector, the most harvested product was bananas followed by green guineos (45% and 29%, respectively).
• In the fresh fruit sector, 30% of the participants reported harvesting coffee.
• In the fresh vegetable sector, 30% of the participants indicated that they are dedicated to the harvest of vegetables.
• In the herbs and spices sector, 7% of the participants indicated that they are dedicated to the coriander harvest.
• 85% of farmers reported using cell phones for their business.
• On the other hand, 76% of farmers reported using internet service and 63% using computers for their business.
• 60% of farmers indicated that they sell or distribute their produce directly to the consumer and 30% indicated that they sell or distribute their products on other farms.
• The agricultural region with the highest participation in the survey was that of Caguas, with a participation of 20 people.
• On the other hand, the agricultural region with the lowest representation in the survey was that of San Germán, with a participation of 9 people.

About the Economic incentives and aid provided to farmers the following data were obtained:

• 74% of farmers indicated that they had not received financial support from the government. While 85% indicated that they had not received support from private companies. 26% of farmers indicated that they had received financial aid from the government.
• 47% of farmers indicated that they had received some incentive or financial support from the federal government due to a natural disaster.
• 40% of farmers indicated that they had received some incentive or financial support from the federal government due to the pandemic (COVID-19) event.
• On the other hand, 53% indicated that they had not received incentives or financial support for a natural disaster and 60% because of the pandemic from the federal government.
• 53% of farmers said they had not received any support or services for the following categories: purchase of machinery, purchase of materials, rental of machinery, any technical assistance, credit or financing, obtaining insurance, marketing or processing or transformation of their products.
• Of those farmers who indicated that they had received some type of service or support, 22% indicated that they had received it for the purchase of machinery.

As for the Barriers and difficulties faced by farmers, these indicated:

• During the period of 2020-2021, 73% of the farmers interviewed indicated that the biggest barrier they presented in their business was high material costs.
• In addition, 59% indicated that they faced problems due to lack of employees.

• On the other hand, 54% reported having problems in their business due to weather events.

• 64% of farmers indicated that the biggest cause of their losses due to weather events was due to hurricanes.
• 50% of farmers indicated that they had to change crops in the last 5 years due to production problems.
• 47% of farmers indicated that they had to change their cycle or season to plant in the last 5 years.
• Among the farmers who participated in the study, the majority mentioned having difficulties when going to the Department of Agriculture in the service area.

“Knowing the needs of our farmers will help us promote and improve local agriculture and strengthen our food security. For this reason, we are extremely pleased with the data obtained in this study, which will serve, among other data, as a basis for justifying various initiatives that improve food production in Puerto Rico,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

The study, which was carried out through an electronic platform to farmers over 18 years of age, was carried out from May 30, 2023 to June 27, 2023 and 160 responses were received, of which 108 (68%) were considered valid. The electronic questionnaire used mixed methods, where both quantitative and qualitative information was collected.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity tasked with coordinating the government's statistical production service to ensure that the data collection and statistics systems, on which public policies are based, are complete, reliable, and accessible quickly and universally.

On Puerto Rico's Agricultural Production Statistics and Index, interested parties can visit the multiple sections on the portal: Agriculture.

To learn more about the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, you can access the website at www.estadisticas.pr.gov and on social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

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