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Report Shows Unique Labor Market Challenge for Afro-Latinx Workers

LOS ANGELES (August 28, 2024) – A new report from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) uncovers significant disparities in labor market outcomes for Afro-Latinx workers in the United States, highlighting the unique challenges faced by this growing demographic. The report, authored by Misael Galdámez, Julia Silver, Dr. Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, and Dr. Nancy López, provides a comprehensive look at how Afro-Latinx individuals aged 25-54 fare in terms of unemployment and labor force participation compared to their non-Black Latino peers and other racial groups.

The report, which is based on an analysis of Current Population Survey data from 2010-2022, shows that despite having higher educational attainment, Afro-Latinx individuals consistently face higher unemployment rates compared to non-Black Latinos. Additionally, for both Afro-Latinx men and women, their labor force participation trends more closely follow those of their non-Latino Black peers than their non-Black Latino peers. Among the findings included in the report:

• Afro-Latino men experience higher unemployment rates than non-Black Latino men, though their rates are generally lower than those of Black and Native American men. 
• Afro-Latina and Black women face particularly high unemployment rates and were twice as likely to be unemployed as non-Latina white women from 2010 to 2022.
• Afro-Latino men exhibit below-average labor force participation rates, aligning more closely with trends seen among non-Latino Black men rather than their non-Black Latino male counterparts. 
• Conversely, Afro-Latina women are more likely to participate in the workforce than non-Black Latinas, reflecting patterns similar to those of non-Latina Black women.
• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing labor force disparities for Afro-Latinxs. Despite the non-Black Latino male workforce being 20 times the size of the Afro-Latino male workforce, Afro-Latino men accounted for a quarter of all Latino male labor force exits in 2020. Both non-Latina Black women and non-Black Latinas saw substantial declines in labor force participation during this period.

The report also underscores the pervasive influence of anti-Black bias in the labor market, which disproportionately affects Afro-Latinx workers. Despite higher rates of Bachelor’s degree attainment among Afro-Latinx individuals compared to non-Black Latinos, they continue to face structural barriers that limit their employment opportunities and economic mobility.

In response to these findings, the authors offer several policy recommendations aimed at addressing these disparities:

• Collect more nuanced and detailed demographic data that includes separate questions on self-identified race, ethnicity/cultural heritages, and street race to better capture the experiences of Afro-Latinx workers and other subgroups.
• Increase funding for federal, state, and local anti-discrimination enforcement agencies—especially the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—and enhance the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws to protect Afro-Latinx and other marginalized workers.
• Implement measures to reduce incarceration rates and facilitate the re-entry of formerly incarcerated individuals into the workforce.

“Afro-Latinx individuals are often overlooked in discussions about racial and ethnic disparities, but our findings clearly demonstrate the unique challenges they face in the labor market,” said Dr. López, professor of sociology at the University of New Mexico and co-founder and past director of the Institute for the Study of “Race” and Social Justice. “The data underscores the need for targeted policy interventions to address the simultaneous impact of racial and ethnic discrimination that these workers experience.”

“Intersectional research like this is crucial because it brings to light inequalities within our Latino community. Afro-Latinx workers are often overlooked in broader discussions about racial and ethnic disparities,” added Galdámez, a senior research analyst at UCLA LPPI. 

Silver, a research analyst at UCLA LPPI concluded “By focusing on this intersection of race, ethnicity, gender, educational attainment, and nativity, we can better understand the compounded challenges faced by Afro-Latinx communities and advocate for policies that address anti-Blackness. This type of research is vital for creating more equitable labor market outcomes and ensuring that all workers have the opportunity to thrive.”

Read the full report here.

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About the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute addresses the most critical domestic policy challenges facing Latinos and other communities of color through innovative research, policy analysis, and leadership development. We seek to expand opportunities for all Americans by leveraging research and advocacy to drive meaningful policy change.