According to a new report from Oxfam America, "a much larger percentage of Black Americans, particularly women in that group, now make less money than their peers nationwide.
While 23% of all U.S. workers are bagging low wages as defined in a report under $17 an hour, the proportions are much higher when broken down by race and gender.
Some 32% of Black workers earn less than $17 an hour, versus 21% of white workers, based on a fresh analysis by Oxfam, which describes itself a global organization fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. And 35% of Black women earn low wages, compared to 29% of Black men, 25.9% of white women, and 17.4% of white men."
William Michael Cunningham, (CEO, Creative Investment Research), declared that the lack of federal action on increasing the minimum wage and reducing income inequality led to wider gaps and more significant hardships for the communities.
He voiced Black women are often doubly disadvantaged due to both racial and gender discrimination, leading to higher rates of low-wage employment versus other demographics.
He mentioned Black women are disproportionately represented in low-wage sectors such as healthcare support, retail, and food service. He added they earn just 63 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. “Black women also shoulder significant caregiving responsibilities, both for children and elderly family members.”
Cunningham declared the lack of federal action on increasing the minimum wage and reducing income inequality led to wider gaps and more significant hardships for these communities. Going forward, Cunningham says the most critical factor in improving the economic situation for low-wage workers, particularly Black women, is robust policy intervention.
He says increasing the federal minimum wage would provide immediate financial relief to low-wage workers. Further, he stated there’s a need to provide better access to affordable education and job training programs, including community colleges, vocational training, and apprenticeships. He also suggested strengthening childcare support, healthcare access, and paid family leave.
While the situation remains dire, Cunningham said there have been some improvements under the current administration compared to the Trump era. He pointed to a greater focus on addressing racial and economic inequalities through various policy measures, though progress has been slow. He says some states, outside the South, have taken independent action to raise their minimum wages, providing a better standard of living for low-wage workers.
“The persistent high proportion of low-wage workers of color in the South highlights the need for comprehensive federal and state-level interventions to address wage disparities and systemic barriers. Significant efforts are required to ensure equitable economic opportunities for all workers, regardless of race or geography.”
RELATED CONTENT: https://www.blackenterprise.com/report-black-americans-black-women-hardest-hit-low-wages/