The unemployment rate among Hispanics increased from 5.8 percent in September, further increasing the gap with the overall U.S. unemployment rate of 5.1 percent, which increased from 4.9 percent in September.

Despite worries of an overheated real-estate market, developers are continuing to unveil high-rise condominium projects in Miami that are record in number and size. The boom amounts to $5.6 billion in current construction.

University students often complain about the disconnect between what's taught in the classroom and the realities of their first job. But the Hispanic community suffers from a different kind of school-job disconnect.

Gov. Bill Richardson has signed a bill allocating $150,000 to the Legislative Council to conduct an independent audit of state Treasurer Robert Vigil, who is facing federal extortion charges and possible empeachment.

College recruiters from schools as far away as North Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, Connecticut and Ohio are focusing recruitment on Texas in an attempt to increase Hispanic enrollment, regional papers report.

The Hispanic percentage of homeowners in 2001 was around 13.7 percent in the 2- to 4-unit or multifamily category, a trend considered potentially indicative of a tendency for Hispanics to pool their resources.

More than 20 percent of Cubans are 65 or older, while a scant 4 percent of Mexicans are in that age bracket. On the other hand, 37 percent of Mexicans and 31 percent of Puerto Ricans are younger than 18.

While the U.S. median age continues to rise, from 35.3 years in 2000, the median age of Hispanics remains the lowest of all groups. Demographers predict faster growth among young Hispanics than among other young ethnic groups for the next decade.

It's a promising job market for top-level talent – and diverse candidates are in greater demand than ever. Top-tier executives should expect plenty of opportunitie following an early 2005 spike in executive job growth.