Based on research, of all Californians who are not qualified for unemployment insurance, more than 50 percent are Latinos.
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About a third of Californians who receive unemployment insurance are Latino workers. However, based on research, among Californians who are not qualified for joblessness relief, more than 50 percent are Latinos.

According to Chhandara Pech, Center for Neighborhood Knowledge researcher, economic recovery is only achievable by "understanding who is hurting the most" from the COVID-10-induced recession.

Pech also added that their research highlights the fact that in the wealthiest state of the country, those at the bottom of the economic ladder "need help the most."

An analysis of California's unemployment presents too that, at the height of the pandemic, "as many as 22 percent Blacks and 26 percent Latinos" were unemployed compared to the percentage rate of both Asian and white workers at an unemployment rate of 17 percent.

Unemployment Assistance


This new report by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge is based not just on data from filed claims for unemployment insurance. It is also based on employment statistics and US Census data.

Specifically, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act with bipartisan backing and signed into legislation on March 27, 2020, by President Donald Trump.

This stimulus package some of the Latino workers in America can avail, which amounts to more than $2 trillion delivers on the commitment of the Trump administration to protect the American people from both the "public health and economic impacts" of the ongoing global pandemic.

The CARES Act provides American workers, households and small companies, and preserve jobs for industries of the nation.

Budget Revisions Affecting Latino Workers in California


Last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom released his May revision to the 2020-2021 budget of the state. The current economic challenges the state is experiencing is understandable, especially with a more than $50 billion shortage and a forthcoming pandemic-induced downturn.

However, a lot of economists believe, this is not the time to reduce crucial programs and draw back commitments made for the protection of the most susceptible Californians.

In connection to the revisions which Newsom made, Latinos have now expressed their concerns. One of these worries is the reduction in public education.

Based on the revision, school districts are having a $6.5-billion cut in the budget. This is likely to affect a large number of Latino students as, based on statistics, Latino youth comprises of more than 50 percent of the "K-12 student population."

Another concern pertains to reduced healthcare for undocumented seniors. Specifically, the California government retracted its proposal of expanding Medi-Cal access to low-earning undocumented elders.

Advancing the health coverage particularly to seniors, economy observers and experts said, could help lessen the spread of COVID-19. Since the pandemic began, according to reports, Latinos have died of "health-related complications" caused by the virus at an inconsistent rate.

What's even worse is that reportedly more than 50 percent of the uninsured population of California is Latino. And, even though immigration status is not a hindrance or an obstacle among those who complain of COVID-19 symptoms, access to tests is also uneven.

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