Latinas in California experience the greatest wage gap in the nation — and it’s unlikely to change soon with the federal government stripping the country’s social safety net.
That doesn’t bode well for Latinas in Santa Clara County who haven’t seen much upward movement in wages over the last few years, despite having the largest wage gap of any metropolitan area in the state. Couple the financial struggles with attacks on the immigrant community and the defunding of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and things are only going to get harder, Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley Executive Director Gabby Chavez-Lopez said.
“I think that it’s just a really tough environment, and I can’t imagine that we’re going to see much advancement in the workplace and in schools,” Chavez-Lopez told San Jose Spotlight.
Latinas in California only earn 49 cents to every dollar earned by white males in the state, according to UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Institute. In contrast, Vermont has the least disparity, with Latinas earning 96 cents for every dollar earned by their white counterparts.
The pandemic set median wages back for people across all ethnic groups and genders. However, Latinas continue to be at the lowest of earnings, with median annual income at roughly $43,880, similar to what they made in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
In Silicon Valley, the difference is even more pronounced. Latinas had a median annual per capita income of $34,400 in 2022, compared to white males who made a median income of about $102,400, according to the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) report. They earned 33 cents for every dollar a white male earns in San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara.
While the federal government is slashing Medi-Cal and food stamps for the most vulnerable, Santa Clara County has made commitments to protect immigrants by bolstering legal services and designing a plan to invest in agricultural businesses.
Last year, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a new department, Office of Economic Development, to support businesses in the unincorporated parts of the county. The office’s goal is to expand agritourism as a strategy to uplift the Latino community. District 1 Supervisor Sylvia Arenas led the effort. The county is in the process of looking for someone to head the office.
“Critically, the county did not have an Office of Economic Development that was open for business — leaving the unincorporated South County communities unsupported, and the many Latina business owners and workers in this region without an advocate,” Arenas told San Jose Spotlight.
Arenas also requested a health assessment to be done on Latinos to get a clear picture of where the disparities lie in the county.
The Latino Health Assessment released in May revealed the areas with the highest concentration of poverty are in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and East San Jose — predominantly Latino regions. The assessment found a higher percentage of Latino residents worked in service sector occupations, at 27%, compared to 14% countywide.
Similarly, Latinas throughout California tend to be concentrated in care industries and other occupations that pay less, according to the HOPE report. They are younger than the average worker and have attained less education, making it harder to reach a senior position. Nationwide, 31% of Latinas are in management positions compared to 49% of white women.
Discrimination also factors in to the wage gap, according to the HOPE report. On average, women are paid less than men in the same occupation, and the pay gap is the greatest for women of color.
“I think educating our employers about responsible practices, and just thinking about fair wages for workers is really key,” Chavez-Lopez said.
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