Latina Equal Pay Day Highlights Widening Wage Gap, Latinas Earn 51 Cents on the Dollar

Oct 3, 2024, 06:11 PM

On Latina Equal Pay Day, numerous public figures and organizations highlighted the significant wage disparity faced by Latina women in the United States. Latina women earn, on average, 51 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. This pay gap has widened for the first time in 20 years, resulting in Latina women losing approximately $1.3 million over their careers. The disparity persists across all industries and education levels, with Latinas in New York earning only 59 cents for every dollar a white man makes. Latina women working full-time, year-round in 2023 earned just 58 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. In municipal jobs, Latina women earn just $0.68 for every dollar earned by white men. Many advocates, including members of Congress and labor unions, are calling for the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act to address this inequity and ensure equal pay for equal work. The wage gap also has severe economic consequences, equating to 32 months of childcare or 16 mortgage payments for Latina women. Efforts to expand pay transparency laws and bring women into higher-paying roles are also being emphasized as crucial steps toward closing the wage gap.