The wealth gap between white and Latino households poses deep problems for the U.S. economy in the coming decades, according to a recent report.

Why it matters: Latinos are the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S., but have 22 cents in household wealth for every $1 held by white households.

The big picture: This could limit consumer spending, business formation and long-term growth if unaddressed.

• The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute–UnidosUS report claims the Latino wealth gap isn't accidental but a result of decades of U.S. policy decisions that shape economic inequality today.

By the numbers: Median Latino household wealth sits at $62,000 vs. white household wealth of $284,000.

• Only 28% of Latinos have retirement accounts compared to 62% of white Americans.
• 51% of Latinos own homes vs. 73% of white Americans.

Zoom in: The disparities are evident in Texas, where the Latino median household income is about $65,000 annually compared to $80,000 for white households, Gabriella Carmona, the report's lead author and a senior research analyst at the institute, tells Axios.

• Median hourly wages show a similar divide: $17 for Latino workers versus $26 for white workers.
• Just 18% of Latinos age 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree, compared to 42% of white Texans.
• Even with a degree, Latinos earn less than white workers due to persistent pay gaps and discrimination. In Texas, Latino college grads make about $29 an hour versus $37 for white peers.

Yes, but: The percentage of Latino households in Central Texas with zero net worth decreased from 27% to 18% over the previous four years, per a 2025 report from the Austin Community Foundation.

• Central Texas Latinos' "liquid asset poverty" rates — or a household's inability to access money to provide for basic needs for three months in the event that income stops — have declined, and homeownership has increased since 2021.

The bottom line: "We can be productive members of society, but still face a lot of barriers when it comes to actually being able to be shareholders in wealth," Carmona says.

The greater Austin area fell from fourth to 13th place nationally for offering the best job opportunities for recent college graduates, per payroll processor ADP's ranking of 20-something hiring rates, wages and affordability.

Why it matters: The statistic reflects not only the broader hiring situation in Central Texas, but also how attractive Austin is to newly minted graduates, long the lifeblood of the city's innovation economy.

The big picture: The fast-growing Southern metros of Birmingham, Alabama, and Tampa Bay, Florida, top the ADP list.

Zoom in: In Texas, the pace of hiring slowed from 2.8% to 2.4% for the Austin-Round Rock region.

The rest of the top 10 metros are:

• San Jose, California
• Columbus, Ohio
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Tulsa, Oklahoma
• San Francisco
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• New York

At the bottom of the rankings are:

• Salt Lake City
• Riverside, California
• San Diego
• Portland, Oregon

How it works: Researchers analyzed 53 U.S. metro areas with populations of at least 1 million.

The bottom line: Entry-level hiring is rebounding this spring — but in a tough job market, young professionals' prospects may depend on the role, sector and location, the Wall Street Journal reports.

🗳️ Former President Obama appeared with state Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) at Taco Joint in Austin yesterday to boost his campaign for U.S. Senate. (New York Times)

🎭 Forklift Danceworks founder Allison Orr won a $520,000 Doris Duke artist award. (KUT)

🔎 Federal investigators are looking into Uber's Avride robotaxis over reports of crashes in Austin and Dallas. (WFAA)

🚔 Two police officers have been cleared a little over a year after a shooting during a traffic stop in North Austin. (KVUE)

💭 Quote du jour

"Being in detention is a choice."

This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Austinites can celebrate AAPI culture through a restaurant "passport" system that comes with discounts.

Details: The $65 book encourages support of local AAPI-owned businesses.

• Proceeds support the Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI), which aims to improve the health and well-being of Asians in Central Texas.
• The Family Style Passport contains roughly $350 in discounts from more than 45 restaurants.

🍽️ How it works: To participate, order your passport online — which will then be mailed to you or you can pick up.

• You can use your passport through July 31.
• It can only be used when payment is made in person.

What they're saying: "This passport invites Austinites to explore the diversity of the city's Asian culinary scene while supporting the local businesses behind it," AACHI executive director Hailey Easley said in a statement.

Zoom in: Participating restaurants include Lao'd Bar, OMG Squee, Oseyo, Kome, Yeni's Fusion, The Peached Tortilla, Wu Chow and Sa-Tén, among others.

Austin FC's highest-paid player is right winger Facundo Torres, who earns $4.4 million in guaranteed salary this year, according to the Major League Soccer Players Association's latest salary guide, released yesterday.

State of play: The team is ranked 10th in the Western Conference.

• Torres, a Uruguayan, has notched one goal and six assists.

Next up: Forward Brandon Vásquez, who recently returned from injury, earns $3.7 million. Left winger Myrto Uzuni, an Albanian with five goals this season, makes $2.3 million.

Not buying team dinner: Right back Riley Thomas is guaranteed $88,025 this year, making him the lowest paid player.

The bottom line: The club has $19.9 million in total guaranteed salary this year, ranking it 16th out of 30 teams.

What's next: Austin visits San Diego FC tonight.

Editor's note: The photo caption has been corrected by Getty to show Owen Wolff pictured (not Facundo Torres).