The 2021 LDC COVID-19 Report: The Latino Community Stepping Up for America is a comprehensive analysis that highlights the Latino contributions during COVID pandemic and their significant contributions to America’s recovery. This report sheds light on how Latinos, who make up a substantial portion of essential workers, have been at the forefront of maintaining critical services across various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, food processing, and transportation.
Latinos have been disproportionately represented in frontline roles, making up 18% of the civilian workforce but a much higher percentage in essential industries. For instance, Latinos constitute 42% of workers in commercial cleaning services and 35% in agriculture. The report underscores how these workers have kept essential services running, often at great personal risk, with Latinos being three times more likely to become infected with COVID-19 compared to their white counterparts.
The report also addresses the economic impact of the pandemic on Latino communities. Despite facing higher unemployment rates and limited access to government relief programs, Latinos have shown remarkable resilience. Latino-owned businesses, which were hit hard by the pandemic, have demonstrated a strong recovery, with many pivoting to digital platforms and new business models to survive.
Moreover, the report highlights the disparities in healthcare access, with 25% of Latino essential workers being uninsured, compared to 8% of non-Latino workers. This lack of access has had devastating consequences during the pandemic. The report calls for targeted policies to address these disparities, including better workplace protections, equitable access to healthcare, and support for Latino-owned businesses.
For a more detailed exploration of the data and insights into how Latinos are driving America’s recovery, download the full 2021 LDC COVID-19 Report: The Latino Community Stepping Up for America from the Latino Donor Collaborative website.
