More than 8 in 10 respondents who had work in May are underemployed
Source: La Alianza surveys, NDWA Labs
Released: June 4, 2021
Today’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Jobs report shows the unemployment rates for Black and Latinx adults decreased in May 2021 but remain higher than before the pandemic and higher than other demographic groups. NDWA Labs’ May report shows a similar trend: Latina domestic workers continue gradually to recover work, but unemployment is still very high for these workers. In May 2021, 25% of domestic worker respondents were still out of work, much higher than the 9% who reported having no jobs before COVID-19.
Domestic workers are the nannies, homecare workers, and house cleaners whose work is essential to our economy, and yet they are one of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of workers. Even before COVID-19, domestic workers earned less than the average US worker and were three times as likely to be living in poverty.1