Equitable Work and Wages

Unequal Present, Unfair Future: Young Black, Latina, and LGBTQ Women Face Greater Economic Challenges during the Pandemic
Unequal Present, Unfair Future: Young Black, Latina, and LGBTQ Women Face Greater Economic Challenges during the Pandemic

Unequal Present, Unfair Future: Young Black, Latina, and LGBTQ Women Face Greater Economic Challenges during the Pandemic

New IWPR survey data show young women’s experience of economic hardship during the COVID-19 crisis varied across racial/ethnic groups and gender and sexual identities—with some struggling more than others. To achieve an equitable recovery, policies should level the playing field by supporting young women who have been hit hardest.

By Shengwei Sun|2025-01-27T19:24:05-05:00December 13, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

For Women in Unions, Paid Leave Is Not a Pipe Dream
For Women in Unions, Paid Leave Is Not a Pipe Dream

For Women in Unions, Paid Leave Is Not a Pipe Dream

Union membership provides improved access to critical benefits like paid leave, along with better pay, health insurance, and pensions. For women, this advantage is especially helpful for weathering crises like COVID-19 and the resulting “she-cession.”

By Jeff Hayes|2025-01-27T19:24:05-05:00November 2, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

The Longest Time to Equal Pay: Latinas and the Wage Gap
The Longest Time to Equal Pay: Latinas and the Wage Gap

The Longest Time to Equal Pay: Latinas and the Wage Gap

Latina women are paid less than White men in all states with sufficient sample sizes. They will not see equal pay until 2206.

By Ariane Hegewisch and Eve Mefferd|2025-01-27T19:24:05-05:00October 19, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

The Gender Pay Gap, 1985 to 2020—with Forecast for Achieving Pay Equity, by Race and Ethnicity
The Gender Pay Gap, 1985 to 2020—with Forecast for Achieving Pay Equity, by Race and Ethnicity

The Gender Pay Gap, 1985 to 2020—with Forecast for Achieving Pay Equity, by Race and Ethnicity

If progress continue at the same rate as it has since 1985, it will take until 2059 to reach full pay equity between all women and men workers.

By IWPR|2025-01-27T19:24:05-05:00October 19, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

Lost Jobs, Stalled Progress: The Impact of the “She-Cession” on Equal Pay
Lost Jobs, Stalled Progress: The Impact of the “She-Cession” on Equal Pay

Lost Jobs, Stalled Progress: The Impact of the “She-Cession” on Equal Pay

In year one of COVID-19, the gender wage gap narrowed slightly only for full-time, year-round workers, with women in low-paying jobs bearing the brunt of the crisis. For all workers, the gender gap widened slightly.

By Ariane Hegewisch and Eve Mefferd|2025-01-27T19:24:05-05:00September 15, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

The Gender Pay Gap, 1960 to 2020—with Forecast for Achieving Pay Equity
The Gender Pay Gap, 1960 to 2020—with Forecast for Achieving Pay Equity

The Gender Pay Gap, 1960 to 2020—with Forecast for Achieving Pay Equity

If progress continues at the same rate as it has since 1960, it will still take another 39 years, until 2059, to reach full equity between women and men among full-time, year-round workers.

By IWPR|2025-01-27T19:24:06-05:00September 13, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

A Decade with No Improvement: Native Women and the Wage Gap
A Decade with No Improvement: Native Women and the Wage Gap

A Decade with No Improvement: Native Women and the Wage Gap

Native American and Alaska Native women are paid less than White men in all states with sufficient sample sizes—with little progress towards equity over the last decade.

By Chandra Childers, Acadia Hall and Ariane Hegewisch|2025-01-27T19:24:06-05:00September 7, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

Stronger Together: Union Membership Boosts Women’s Earnings and Economic Security
Stronger Together: Union Membership Boosts Women’s Earnings and Economic Security

Stronger Together: Union Membership Boosts Women’s Earnings and Economic Security

In every state, unionized women out earn women in non-union jobs—an essential wage advantage that would increase women’s economic security following the pandemic-induced “she-cession.” This brief shares insights on the ways unions narrow gender wage gaps and improve economic security for all women.

By Chuxuan Sun, Acadia Hall and Elyse Shaw|2025-01-27T19:24:06-05:00September 1, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

Strong Jobs Growth for Women in July, but a Troubling Recovery of Child Care Jobs
Strong Jobs Growth for Women in July, but a Troubling Recovery of Child Care Jobs

Strong Jobs Growth for Women in July, but a Troubling Recovery of Child Care Jobs

New July jobs data show that women’s jobs grew by 649,000, marking the largest jobs growth since August 2020. Yet women’s recovery continues to lag behind men’s: Women still need 3.1 million more jobs on payroll to get back to pre-COVID levels. And, child care centers are recovering much more slowly than the overall economy, signaling difficulties for women’s return to work.

By Ariane Hegewisch and Eve Mefferd|2025-01-27T19:24:06-05:00August 16, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

Shortchanged and Underpaid: Black Women and the Pay Gap
Shortchanged and Underpaid: Black Women and the Pay Gap

Shortchanged and Underpaid: Black Women and the Pay Gap

The COVID-19 pandemic and related recession has both highlighted the persistent inequalities that Black women face in the labor market and exacerbated them. Black women were overrepresented in many low-paying jobs that were recognized as “essential” during the pandemic, but had often been dismissed as “low-skilled” before. [...]

By Chandra Childers, Ariane Hegewisch and Eve Mefferd|2025-01-27T19:24:06-05:00July 27, 2021|Equitable Work and Wages|0 Comments

Unequal Present, Unfair Future: Young Black, Latina, and LGBTQ Women Face Greater Economic Challenges during the Pandemic

For Women in Unions, Paid Leave Is Not a Pipe Dream

The Longest Time to Equal Pay: Latinas and the Wage Gap

The Gender Pay Gap, 1985 to 2020—with Forecast for Achieving Pay Equity, by Race and Ethnicity

Lost Jobs, Stalled Progress: The Impact of the “She-Cession” on Equal Pay

The Gender Pay Gap, 1960 to 2020—with Forecast for Achieving Pay Equity

A Decade with No Improvement: Native Women and the Wage Gap

Stronger Together: Union Membership Boosts Women’s Earnings and Economic Security

Strong Jobs Growth for Women in July, but a Troubling Recovery of Child Care Jobs

Shortchanged and Underpaid: Black Women and the Pay Gap

IN THE LEAD

Follow us on social and subscribe to In the Lead for timely analysis and to be the first to know about new research and upcoming events.