Trans Adults Twice as Likely to be Unemployed as Cis Adults, Study Shows

In addition to the abundant issues trans people face in today’s society, a new study examining the conditions transgender people face at work found that trans adults are twice as likely to be unemployed as cis adults.

McKinsey Quarterly, a business magazine by the management consulting firm MicKinsey & Company, published the study titled “Being Transgender at Work” last week. The review draws from numerous sources—including previous research for McKinsey, “The Experiences of LGBTQ+ Workers;” research from UCLA’s Williams Institute; and data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)—to look further at the reality of transgender workers in today’s world.

The study also found that even employed trans workers are more likely to experience uncertainty about maintaining their professional positions. The report uses BRFSS data showing that 1.7 times as many trans people reported being recently out of work compared to their cis counterparts. Additionally, 42 percent more trans people reported that they work part-time compared to cis people, meaning they are less likely to be eligible for benefits often available only to full-time workers, like healthcare.

A survey conducted by McKinsey found that transgender people are 2.4 times more likely be paid the minimum wage or less for tipped positions, and the average annual household income of a trans adult is about $17,000 less than that of a cis adult.

When other factors of marginalization are taken into account, the figures are exasperated: 75 percent of Native trans people and 43 percent of Hispanic trans people made less than $25,000 annually.

The study indicates that factors like a college education didn’t necessarily mend these issues as well. Trans respondents to the McKinsey survey were 1.7 times less likely to have a college degree than cis people, and those with degrees (26 percent) still were more likely to earn $50,000 or less compared to cis college graduates (19 percent).

Even finding a job presents challenges to trans works, who were more likely to report feeling that certain industries weren’t an option for them because of their gender identity. Transgender workers say they are often concerned about their safety and their ability to be their authentic selves at work, especially if a certain field already lacks trans representation.

The article poses some solutions, like improving recruitment processes, which would include the sponsorship of skills-based training for transgender community groups and participating in career fairs specific to the trans community. It also suggests promoting more trans-affirming benefits, like strong mental healthcare support and coverage for gender-affirming care.

It also recommends creating trans-inclusive policies, like reviewing company dress codes and offering diversity training. A final recommendation suggests signaling a culture of inclusion by allowing applicants to use more than just “he” and “she” binary pronouns, adding all gender bathrooms, and acknowledging days like Trans Day of Visibility.

The article states, “While there is much to be proud of in the workplace advances of the LGBTQ+ community over the past decade, true progress cannot be realized unless it includes every letter of the abbreviation. When employers better understand the challenges that transgender people face, they can knock those barriers down.”