Trends in Employment and Earnings
Women’s status in the area of employment and earnings has improved on two indicators since the publication of IWPR’s last national report on the status of women, the 2004 Status of Women in the States, and remained unchanged or declined on two others. Women’s median annual earnings for full-time, year-round work in 2013 ($39,157) were nearly identical to their earnings for similar work in 2002 ($39,108 when adjusted to 2013 dollars). The gender earnings ratio improved during this time from 76.6 to 78.3 percent, narrowing the gender wage gap by 1.7 percentage points, and the share of women working in professional or managerial occupations grew from 33.2 to 39.9 percent. Women’s labor force participation rate, however, declined from 59.6 in 2002 to 57.0 percent in 2014.
Busy with Purpose: Lessons for Education and Policy Leaders from Returning Student Parents
Postsecondary attainment is widely recognized as key to accessing living-wage careers—in addition to fulfilling workforce demands and elevating the United States’ standing on the world stage. While much of the work to increase attainment rates has recognized the role of reengaging adults who have some college credit, but no degree or certificate, less attention has been paid to the salience of parenthood in adults’ postsecondary experiences.
Gender wage gap shrank because of COVID-19, but that’s not a good thing
By Thuy Lan Nguyen Millions of people have been put [...]
Big Bold Relief Bill Will Help Millions of Women and Families and Will Lead to the End the She-cession
Washington, DC – IWPR applauds the House and the Senate and President Biden for enacting the American Rescue Plan, an historic relief package that will uplift women and families. “Women and families are facing extraordinary challenges that require bold solutions,” said C. Nicole Mason, PhD, President and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). “Now they will finally get some of the help they need to survive the pandemic with the delivery of this landmark relief package.”
