Join us for IWPR’s 2026 Power+ Summit, The Power Grid: Driving Gender Equity Forward, taking place September 28–29 in Detroit, MI.
Together, we will spark bold ideas, share breakthroughs, and shape the future of gender equity.
By Canice Leung
Women still lag behind men in the workplace in the United States, with opportunities and earnings potential vastly different among the 50 states, according to research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. The institute looked at the gender wage gap, women’s labor force participation and representation in professional and managerial occupations and ranked each state. Here are the worst states for women by employment and earnings, followed by the best.