Koreatown, one of Los Angeles’ most diverse neighborhoods, has long served as a cultural and economic hub for immigrant communities, including large Latine and Korean populations. Supermarkets in these areas are key pillars of ethnic economies, providing culturally specific goods and acting as engines of economic growth. However, the growth and visibility of these markets often mask the precarious working conditions faced by frontline workers.
Most recently, the Orange County (OC) cities of Buena Park and Garden Grove designated their own Koreatown neighborhoods in recognition of the growing population of Korean American residents and concentration of Korean businesses in the surrounding area.
Overworked & Under Pressure: A Study of Supermarket Workers in Los Angeles and Orange County Koreatowns examines supermarket establishments in the Koreatowns located in Los Angeles, Buena Park, and Garden Grove—areas that reflect broader trends in ethnic entrepreneurship, gentrification, and corporate consolidation. With nearly 2,400 supermarkets across both counties, the sector employs over 100,000 workers, many of whom are low-wage, immigrant workers with limited labor protections.
Among other findings, the report notes:
- Nearly 2 in 5 (38%) of LA County frontline supermarket workers and 34% of Orange County frontline workers are immigrants.
- 40% of workers experienced at least one form of wage theft, such as unpaid overtime or denial of breaks.
- 24% of workers reported their employers do not offer health insurance. Among those offered plans, 73% are not enrolled; of those not enrolled, 46% cite affordability as the main barrier.
- 53% of those abused or intimidated were targeted by managers; response rates of abuse and mistreatment were highest among cashiers, a position that is also overwhelmingly composed of women.
- About 71% of workers in LA and 66% in OC earn low wages.
Authors recommend:
- Invest in training opportunities and formalize paths for promotion and career advancement
- Develop clear communication channels that appropriately address language barriers
- Implement more flexible scheduling options
- Raise wages and strengthen enforcement
- Improve health insurance access
- Create protected spaces for workers to discuss working conditions
