In the United States, people of all different backgrounds live together. Today, more than one in eight people in the United States are Hispanic, and Latino communities are an important part America. Hispanic Americans are people from different lands, cultures, and backgrounds. Many come to the United States looking for better jobs—and some of them find them. No matter where Hispanic Americans came from originally, the longer they live in the United States, the better jobs they are likely to have. As they live in their new homes longer, they learn the language better; they make connections that can lead to job opportunities; and they gain a better understanding of what they have to offer in the work world. As you read the stories of individual Hispanic Americans, you will gain a better understanding of what it means to be a Latino in today''s work world.