Workers with professional occupations may have higher levels of education, increased income opportunities and more workplace autonomy in comparison to low- and middle-skill wage laborers. This reflects on how equitable the opportunity structure may be within a given community or region.

In 2017-21, 46% of white workers and 44% of Asian workers in Norfolk County were professionals compared to 31% of African American workers and 30% of Hispanic workers. Similar disparities exist at the state level and in Essex and Middlesex counties. The disparity between white professional workers and Hispanic professional workers is greater in the state and in Essex and Middlesex than in Norfolk.

There are many reasons why disparities may occur. In addition to the general effects of current and historical racial and ethnic discrimination, career and educational choices and pathways are influenced by family financial resources, personal social networks that connect to specific workplaces, and the availability of visible role models to let young people know that particular career paths are open and achievable to people like them. Language issues or immigration status may also be playing a role in the comparatively low rates for Hispanic workers.

Multiyear data are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample. The American Community Survey combines five years of responses to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the first quarter.