Voices unheard: Job stress among Hispanic, female blue-collar workers in the United States

Hispanic women comprising 5 percent of the total labor force, 8 million workers, are a notable proportion of the blue-collar workforce. Research on job stress among Hispanic blue-collar workers has shown that Hispanic women face many of the same stressors as other employed women yet also encounter additional strains (e.g., discrimination, lack of social support, and language barriers). Moreover, they are more exposed to intimidation by their supervisors, heavy workloads in dangerous physical conditions, and lower salaries. With rapid growth in the number of women of Hispanic origin in the blue-collar workforce, the need for further research is warranted to understand the various sources and effects of their job stress. Partnering with three community-based organizations in Nebraska, South Carolina, and California, focus groups were conducted to explore: 1) the sources/contributing factors of job stress, 2) stress unique to the Hispanic community, 3) how job stress impacts Hispanic women's lives - at work and home, 4) current coping strategies, and 5) future programming needs/concerns. This exploratory study provides a platform for assessing and understanding the health and safety issues impacting Hispanic, female blue-collar workers as well as identifies key implications/recommendations for more effective worksite and health education programs to address the occupational stress specifically experienced by this working population.