An underrepresentation of Latinas in entry-level corporate roles only worsens as their careers progress, making them the least-represented group of C-suite executives in the U.S., according to a new report. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\u2002State of Latinas in Corporate America<\/a> report, published Wednesday by LeanIn.org, a nonprofit organization focused on women in the workplace co-founded by former Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, found that Latinas occupy just 1% of C-suite roles in the U.S. workforce. The report used data from Lean In and McKinsey & Co.\u2019s annual Women in the Workplace study, as well as expert analysis, to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the challenges it says Latinas face at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Latinas encounter two critical \u201cbroken rungs<\/a>\u201d as they climb up the corporate ladder, according to the report. They are overlooked for management roles and then again for senior leadership roles. While Latinas hold just 4.9% of entry-level corporate jobs, the number shrinks to 3.3% at the managerial level and 2% for senior leadership roles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis holds Latinas back at a key moment when the C-suite is finally in view,\u201d the report says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rachel Thomas, a co-founder and the CEO of Lean In, said performance bias in the form of stereotypes about Latinas clashes with traditional expectations of what makes a good fit for corporate jobs and managerial roles. Latinas, she said, are associated with \u201cdomestic work, having large families, being less educated, being fiery and emotional.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is such a tired stereotype, and one we\u2019re all aware of,\u201d she said. \u201cBut taken together, it\u2019s a set of biases that make it particularly hard for qualified Latinas to get corporate positions and then advance. It just feels to me like a particularly sinister constellation of stereotypes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That lack of progression up the corporate ladder has cumulative effects. Activists say Latinas still earn 52 cents for every dollar earned by non-Hispanic white men<\/a> and miss out on nearly\u2002$1.2 million in lifetime earnings<\/a>. That leaves them with an average net worth less than 1% of the average white man\u2019s, according to the report. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis pay gap is often largely attributed to Latinas working in jobs and industries that pay less,\u201d the report said. \u201cBut even within corporate America, there are signs that the pay gap remains the widest for Latinas: an analysis of U.S. census data shows that Latinas working in business and finance earn 26 percent less than white men \u2014 the least of any group of employees.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n A lack of sponsorship and support from management can also be a significant factor in Latinas\u2019 career trajectories. Latinas are less likely than white women and women overall to be recognized and praised for their accomplishments or have senior leaders advocate for them, the report found. Only 39% of Latinas say their managers have shown interest in their career advancement, compared with 46% of white women and 44% of women overall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Thomas said: \u201cThey are getting less support in those areas. And of course, those are areas that are critical for moving to the pipeline and advancing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n