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Latina workers continue to grapple with a significant wage gap

Jonathan Valenzuela Mejia

Latina Equal Pay Day sheds light on the persistent disparities that negatively impact economic growth for Latinas. Latina Futures, 2050 Lab hosted a program at the UCLA campus on October 5th to highlight this critical issue and underscore the urgent need for pay equity. The program showcased findings from UCLA LPPI showing the persistent wage gap that Latinas continue to face. Nationally, Latinas working full-time year-round, on average, face a wage gap of 57 cents to every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men. When looking at all Latina earners (including full-time year-round, part-time, and seasonal workers), the wage gap widens to 52 cents. 

The data brief also showed the gender wage gap remains shockingly high in California, which has some of the strongest equal pay laws in the country. Still, Latina women in the state are paid an average of 49 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men, according to data analysis from the forthcoming Latino Data Hub, a new data platform from the Institute. The new reporting also found that Latinas with a bachelor’s degree are paid 58 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men with a similar level of education.

Other findings from UCLA LPPI reported at the Latina Equal Pay Day event include that the Latina workforce in California is large and growing. There are currently more than 3.3 million Latina workers in the state. Among young workers aged 16 – 44 , Latinas outnumber women in other major racial/ethnic groups. Latina workers earn the lowest median wages. In 2021, the median hourly wage for Latinas in California was only $17 per hour—lower than the wage for workers in other major racial/ethnic groups.

Read the data brief here.

Other findings from UCLA LPPI reported at the Latina Equal Pay Day event include: 

  • The Latina workforce in California is large and growing. There are currently more than 3.3 million Latina workers in the state. 
  • Among young workers aged 16 – 44, Latinas outnumber women in other major racial/ethnic groups. 
  • Latina workers earn the lowest median wages. In 2021, the median hourly wage for Latinas in California was only $17 per hour—lower than the wage for workers in other major racial/ethnic groups.