The “State of Latinas in Corporate America” report, published by LeanIn.org, reveals that Latinas are the least represented group in high-level executive positions in the U.S. Only 1% of senior positions are held by Latinas, highlighting an underrepresentation that worsens as their careers progress. Using data from Lean In and McKinsey & Co.'s annual Women in the Workplace study, the report looks at the challenges Latinas face in the workplace.

The report identifies two critical “broken rungs” in Latinas’ rise through the corporate hierarchy: the transition to management roles and back again to senior leadership roles. Only 4.9 percent of entry-level corporate positions are held by Latinas, a figure that drops to 3.3 percent at the management level and 2 percent in senior leadership positions.

Rachel Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Lean In, attributes this disparity to negative stereotypes that make it difficult for Latinas to rise to positions of power. These stereotypes include perceptions that Latinas are associated with housework, are less educated, and are overly emotional. These biases make it difficult for Latinas to get into and advance in corporate positions.

The consequences of this lack of progress are significant. Latina women earn, on average, 52 cents for every dollar received by non-Hispanic white men, resulting in a loss of nearly $1.2 million in lifetime earnings. In addition, the median net worth of Latina women is less than 1% of the median net worth of white men. Even in fields like business and finance, Latinas earn 26% less than white men.

Another major factor is the lack of sponsorship and support from management. Only 39 percent of Latinas report that their managers have shown interest in their career advancement, compared to 46 percent of white women and 44 percent of women overall. This lack of support makes it even more difficult for Latinas to advance.

Flexibility at work is another problem area. Latinas have less access to flexible work options and often don't utilize the available options due to fear of being micromanaged and judged on physical presence rather than outcomes.

Despite these challenges, Latinas remain highly ambitious. Nearly 90 percent of Latinas want to be promoted to the next level in their careers, compared with 78 percent of white women and 81 percent of women overall.

The report suggests several measures to help promote the advancement of Latinas, including monitoring bias in hiring and performance reviews, creating cultures that embrace flexibility, regularly reviewing data on performance and promotions, increasing commitment to career sponsorship for Latinas, and expanding recruiting efforts to include colleges and professional organizations that serve Hispanics.