Wage Gap Growing Most for Hispanics

The nation’s growing wage gap is hitting Hispanics the hardest, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Between 2007 and 2013, the median weekly earnings for Hispanics who stand at the low end of the wage spectrum fell by 9.4 percent- a greater decrease than those felt by whites, blacks and Asians in similar economic situations. At the high end of the wage scale, Asians saw the biggest increase at 6.8 percent, but Hispanics were not far behind with an uptick of 4.4 percent in median weekly earnings. Current economic trends, including high unemployment and the prevalence of part-time work, are largely to blame for this wage gap. The percentage of Hispanics working part-time, for instance, grew from 13.6 percent in 2007 to 18.7 percent. Similar increases were not seen by white and Asian workers, who on average make more than Hispanics.

Families worry as unemployment benefits draw to an end

02:15

IN-DEPTH

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--Jacob Passy