Latinos are Paid Lower Wages
It is no secret that Latino workers comprise a large segment of the country’s population and workforce. In 2014, 54.1 million or 17 percent of the country’s population was Latino and made up about 15 percent of the workforce (23 million Latino workers). The number of Latino workers will double to 30 percent of the total U.S. workforce by 2050. While Latinos are growing in numbers, most are living in a state of financial insecurity because they are trapped in low-wage jobs.
Nearly 6.76 million low-wage earning Latino workers have contributed to America’s increased productivity and lucrative corporate profits. Despite their contributions, Latinos continue to work harder and harder for less and less. Latino workers have helped build our cities and harvest our food while facing the highest rates of wage theft and injury/death at the workplace. There is no doubt that raising wages for workers is key for Latino economic prosperity.
LCLAA has long advocated for Latino advancement through fair wages and collective bargaining. This includes raising the minimum wage on the federal level. Increasing the federal minimum wage will impact 6.76 million Latinos and allow them to increase their opportunities to save for retirement, stimulate the economy, and drive millions of Latino working families out of poverty.