Final answer:
Minority-owned firms in the U.S. represent a significant portion of all businesses, with Hispanic, African American, Asian American, and other minority groups contributing to the diversity of business ownership. As workforce diversity increases, the trend of minority ownership in firms is expected to continue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the percentage of minorities in the U.S. that own firms. According to Table 7.1 from the U.S. Census 2010, there is a significant presence of minority-owned businesses in the economy. With a total of 5,734,538 firms, minority-owned firms make up a considerable portion. Specifically, firms owned by Hispanics account for 12.3 million (11.0%), African Americans own 8.3 million (7.4%), Asian Americans own 18.6 million (16.6%), and Native Americans and others account for a smaller percentage of ownership. As the U.S. workforce and population become increasingly diverse, with a projected decrease of white Americans from 78% to 69% by 2060 and a substantial rise in the proportion of U.S. citizens of Hispanic background, the role of minorities in owning and operating businesses is likely to continue evolving. It's important to note that the figures include both employer and non-employer businesses, ranging in size from small-scale operations to large firms.