A new report about women’s issues released this week by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles County stated that Latinas represent nearly half of the women in Los Angeles County, while women at all education levels earn less than their male counterparts.
According to “The State of Women in Los Angeles County 2016,” released in conjunction with inaugural Women’s Summit held in Beverly Hills, 60 percent of women in the county are single, up from 40 percent in 1960.
The report found that only 41 percent of women in the county have full-time jobs, compared to 58 percent of men. It also found that more than 13,000 women were included in the 2015 Los Angeles County homeless survey, up from 9,348 in 2013.
According to the study, income disparity continues to be an issue for women at all levels of education. Women with less than a high school education earn about $15,000 a year on average, compared to about $21,000 for men at the same education level. The disparity increases proportionately with education level. Women with graduate degrees in the county earn an average of about $64,000 a year, compared to $85,000 for men, the report found.
It determined that 47 percent of women are Latina, 27 percent are White, 14 percent are Asian, 9 percent are Black and 3 percent are multi-racial.
The report’s release coincided with the United Way’s Women’s Summit at the Beverly Hilton. The gathering featured speakers including actresses Kerry Washington and Sarah Michelle Gellar, LAUSD board member Monica Garcia and first lady of Los Angeles Amy Elaine Wakeland.
The summit was billed a way to help boost efforts to break the cycle of poverty for female students, families, women and veterans struggling with homelessness and unemployment.
“There is strength in numbers, and United Way looks forward to continuing to work with these female leaders to combat the perpetual state of poverty by addressing the factors that impact it most—housing, education and jobs,” said Elise Buik, of the United Way of Greater L.A
