Nevada women of color more likely to earn less than $17 an hour, report finds

Nevada’s minimum wage isn’t enough to afford a one-bedroom apartment at the fair market rate of $1,196, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images))

Hispanic and Black women in Nevada are more likely than any other demographic to make less than $17 an hour, according to data from Oxfam America.

The international organization released a new report this week, “ The Crisis of Low Wages, 2024 ” that found that 39 million workers nationwide, roughly 23% of the workforce, earn less than $17 with women of color disproportionately represented.

Women of color make up 37% of the 418,444 workers in Nevada making less than $17 an hour, compared to 19% of white men, Oxfam found.

The report noted that in Nevada, 42% of Hispanic women, 34% of Black women and nearly 29% of Asian and Indigenous women are lower-wage earners.

“Low wage workers, who are disproportionately women of color, are the backbone of our economy,” Dr. Kaitlyn Henderson, report author and senior researcher at Oxfam America, said in a statement. ”The least this country can do is pay them wages that cover basic necessities—something the current federal minimum wage does not do, regardless of where in the U.S. you live.”

Nevada’s minimum wage finally hit $12 on July 1. The federal rate is $7.25.

Attempts to raise the federal minimum wage in recent years have failed.

Nevada passed legislation in 2019 slowly raising the wage from $8.25 per hour – $7.25 an hour if an employer provides quality health insurance – by 75 cents each year until reaching $12.

The state’s two-tiered wage structure, which allowed employers to pay $1 less if they offered health insurance, also ended in July. Nevada voters approved a ballot measure in 2022 that eliminated its two-tiered system.

Nevada’s minimum wage isn’t enough to afford a one-bedroom apartment at the fair market rate of $1,196, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Some groups have advocated for lawmakers to consider another minimum wage increase, but lawmakers haven’t indicated whether a measure will be considered in the next legislative session.

The Oxfam report found that the total number of men and women in Nevada earning less than $17, about 26% of the workforce, is slightly higher than the national average at 23%.

Around 22% of men in Nevada, 194,325 workers, earn a low wage compared to 30% of women, 224,120 workers.

While women of color make up a higher number of lower-wage workers compared to white men, men of color are also disproportionately represented compared to white women. But just slightly.

Men of color comprised 28% of those earning less than $17 an hour compared to white women at 27%.

The report also found the largest age demographic earning the lowest wages is 16 to 24 years olds, about 62% of whom would benefit from the $17 wage.

“A common misperception is that many low-wage jobs are filled by teenagers who add little to the family’s income,” according to the report. “The reality is that workers of every age would benefit from a universal wage of $17 per hour.”