ORLANDO, Fla. – The Puerto Rico Research Hub at the University of Central Florida on Monday released findings from a survey on Puerto Ricans in Florida.
The survey, which was distributed in Spring 2024, included results from 271 people who identified as Puerto Rican across all counties in Florida.
Dr. Fernando Rivera is the director of the Puerto Rico Research Hub and said the goal of the survey was to understand several political and socioeconomic issues that are important to the second-largest Latino group in the state.
“Some of the things we found as the most pressing issues were education, cost of living and the economy. Those were the most important issues out there,” Rivera said.
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According to the survey, the economy has remained top of mind for many Puerto Ricans who have left the island to seek new opportunities in Florida.
“A lot of people are coming to Florida,” Rivera said. “Puerto Ricans are going to come to Florida for economic opportunities, but now we’re seeing those patterns out there so we want to make sure that we create conditions not only for Puerto Ricans, but everybody that decides to make Florida their home.”
When it comes to education, a majority of the respondents said they would like to see reforms in some areas.
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“I think that was the suggestion out here that we’re not investing enough in education. Both in the public education and in the higher education as well,” Rivera said.
The survey was completed through a Higher Education Congressionally Funded Community Projects Program secured by Rep. Darren Soto (FL Congressional District 9) through the U.S. Department of Education.
Rivera said the results are being presented to lawmakers ahead of the fall election.
“Not only doing our research for fellow academics, but also bringing it to the ones that can actually make the policies. The ones that can make the decisions,” Rivera said.
To look at the full survey results, visit https://global.ucf.edu/puertorico/survey2024/
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