Report: Despite Strides, State's Latinas Face Economic Disparity

Latinas are a driving force in the economy, contributing $1.3 trillion to the gross domestic product, achieving record levels of workforce participation, and starting businesses at rapid rates, according to a new report issued Tuesday that found Hispanas earn only 41 cents for every dollar paid to white men.

The report by Los Angeles-based Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) found that persistent barriers such as wage inequality, student debt, childcare access, and limited business capital continue to limit the full economic potential of Latinas.

With almost 8 million Latinas making up more than 20% of California’s population, the state stands out as both a hub of Latina entrepreneurship and as the home of the widest wage gap in the nation, the “National Economic Status of L