In a stark reminder of persistent economic disparities, new data reveals that Latina women face a staggering wage gap compared to their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts. This gap now amounts to a loss of nearly $1.3 million over a 40-year career for full-time and part-time workers combined.
According to the National Women's Law Center (NWLC), Latina women working full-time, year-round earn just 58 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. While this represents a slight improvement of one penny from the previous year, the overall picture remains bleak.
The wage disparity translates to an annual loss of $32,070 for Latina workers, or $2,672 every month. This gap is so substantial that a Latina would need to work until the age of 89 - eight years beyond her life expectancy - to earn what a white, non-Hispanic man typically earns by age 60.
Ashir Coillberg, a senior research analyst at NWLC, explains the widening gap: "White men's wages are increasing at a faster rate than other demographic groups." This trend has led to an increase in lifetime losses for Latina workers, even as overall wages have been rising.
The situation is even more dire for part-time and part-year Latina workers. Their earnings have fallen to 51 cents on the dollar compared to 52 cents last year, further widening the gap for this segment of the workforce.
These stark figures underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Latina women in the U.S. labor market. As the nation grapples with issues of economic equity, the persistent and widening wage gap for Latinas remains a critical area for attention and action.
The date October 3rd marks Latina Equal Pay Day, symbolizing the additional days into the new year that Latinas must work to match the typical annual salary of white, non-Hispanic male workers from the previous year. This sobering milestone serves as a reminder of the long road ahead in achieving wage parity for Latina workers across the United States.