In recognition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, this report provides a snapshot of the current economic state of the AANHPI community and their contributions to the American economy. This group, which makes up about 7% of the American population, is extremely diverse and includes approximately 50 ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages. This fact sheet disaggregates headline measures of economic well-being, showing the full diversity of the AANHPI community’s economic state and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Findings including:

• Many AANHPI groups have fully recovered the jobs lost during the pandemic, thanks in part to the American Rescue Plan.
• High AANHPI median family income masks some groups’ economic insecurity.
• Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have higher rates of poverty, while Asian American poverty rates vary widely.
• Asian Americans’ high level of educational achievement obscures wide-ranging disparities and low rates of college graduation for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
• Despite high aggregate rates of health insurance coverage, the AANHPI community was disproportionately affected by the pandemic when controlling for socioeconomic factors.

A nuanced understanding of the economic status of AANHPI communities and the challenges they face will help policymakers shape structural solutions and support the ongoing economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Read the full report.