Working With Pride: The Scheduling Crisis Facing Young Workers in Santa Cruz County
May 2025: Steven Carmona Mora, Veronica Terriquez, and Steve McKay
Although California has made significant strides in LGBTQ+ rights over the last couple of decades, many people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or non-heterosexual continue to face discrimination and unfair treatment at work. Such reality holds in Santa Cruz County, where LGBTQ+ individuals make up a significant portion of the young adult workforce. This fact sheet draws on original data from the Thriving Youth Study, which surveyed Santa Cruz County residents and workers aged 18 to 34. The findings point to the urgent need for stronger protection and labor law enforcement, primarily for young LGBTQ+ workers.
In our survey, 29% of respondents identified as LGBTQ+. While the survey does not offer a precise count of LGBTQ+ workers in the county, survey weights adjust results to reflect the demographics of Santa Cruz County’s young adult population, including in-school enrollment, age, race, and gender. Our finding suggests that LGBTQ+ individuals are a sizable part of the local young workforce.
Our survey reveals troubling labor law violations and unsafe working conditions that affect young workers, especially those who identify as LGBTQ+. As demonstrated in Figure 2, 35 percent of LGBTQ+ respondents reported working off the clock, compared to 21 percent of non-LGBTQ+ young workers. About 25 percent of LGBTQ+ respondents said they had performed unpaid work, versus 16 percent of their heterosexual peers. Meanwhile, 16 percent of LGBTQ+ workers were denied legally required breaks after their four-hour work shift, compared to 9 percent of workers who identified as heterosexual. And while 3 percent of respondents reported serious injuries during their work shift, the percentage was slightly higher among those who identify as LGBTQ+.
Further study is underway to help explain why LGBTQ+ workers in Santa Cruz County experience higher rates of wage theft and workplace injury. Previous research has shown that nationally, LGBTQ+ people face more discrimination than their heterosexual peers, and are over-represented in specific industries such as food service, retail, and education. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted action to reduce labor law violations and improve workplace safety for all in Santa Cruz County, including LGBTQ+ young workers.
Strengthening enforcement of existing labor laws and bolstering anti-discrimination protections allow LGBTQ+ workers to demand their rights without fear of retaliation. Accessible education on worker rights and training for employers and managers on inclusive labor practices can build safer and fairer workplaces for LGBTQ+ employees. Creating environments free from discrimination against LGBTQ+ and other marginalized groups requires enforced employer accountability. But most importantly, expanding union representation and supporting young
1 Smith, C & H Norris. 2025. “The LGBTQI+ Community Reported High Rates of Discrimination in 2024” https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-lgbtqi-community-reported-high-rates-of-discrimination-in-20 24/
2 In spring 2024, UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo students collected surveys from Santa Cruz County workers, students, and residents. The survey sample included 1,460 young adults aged 18-34 who were employed at the time of the survey.
3 Medina, C et al. 2022. “Factsheet: LGBT Workers in the Labor Market,” Center for American Progress, https://www.americanprogress.org/article/fact-sheet-lgbt-workers-in-the-labor-market/
Steven Carmona Mora is a master’s student in the UCLA Department of Urban Planning. Steven holds a B.A. from UC Santa Cruz.
Veronica Terriquez is a Professor of urban planning and Chicana/o and Central American studies, and Director of the Chicano Studies Research Center at UCLA.
Steve McKay is a Professor of sociology and Director of the Center for Labor and Community at UC Santa Cruz.