Hispanic and Latino professionals feel overlooked and underrepresented in corporate America, new study finds

Feeling seen and accepted, and having your skills and talents appreciated, are both key ingredients for job satisfaction and employee retention.

Feeling seen and accepted, and having your skills and talents appreciated, are both key ingredients for job satisfaction and employee retention. That’s one reason why it’s notable that a new study finds a full 40% of Hispanic and Latino/a professionals in corporate America say they feel it is necessary to change aspects of themselves to succeed at work. The study, “More than a Monolith: The Advancement of Hispanic and Latino/a Talent,” comes from the nonprofit think tank Coqual, which seeks to address bias and uncover barriers to advancement for underrepresented populations in the workplace. “Our findings illuminate hurdles Hispanic and Latino professionals face, including the undue pressure to mask their authentic selves and heritage in pursuit of success,” said Coqual CEO Lanaya Irvin. The report’s findings were based in part on a survey of 2,385 full-time, US-based employees who had at least some postsecondary education or degree. They were also based on virtual focus groups and interviews with 100 Hispanic and Latino/a professionals and experts. (Generally speaking, “Hispanic” refers to someone with Spanish-speaking ancestry, while “Latino/a” refers to anyone with geographic roots in Latin America, regardless of language.)