Economic, Security, Mobility and Equity (ESME)
Whether paid or unpaid, women’s work is crucial for their families’ economic security and well-being. Greater gender equality in paid and unpaid work will reduce poverty and improve economic growth and prosperity; persistent inequity in employment and family work is costing all of us. Women are held back by the undervaluation of historically female work, workplaces designed as if workers had no family responsibilities, and a broken-down work-family infrastructure.
IWPR’s ESME program highlights the extent of pay inequalities, and the role played by stark occupational segregation in perpetuating unequal pay. We conduct research and analysis on women’s labor force participation and employment trends; workforce development, non-traditional employment, and apprenticeships; the impact of sex discrimination and harassment on women’s career advancement and mobility; the gender pay gap and pay inequity across race and ethnicity; work-family policies and employer practices; the and the impact of automation and technological advances on women workers.
We work with policymakers, employers, advocates, and practitioners to identify promising practices and policy solutions.
Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People
Washingtonian For a long time, people have moved to Washington to change the world. Now more than ever, young people are eager to see improvements to our country, our climate, and our justice system. Unfortunately, polls have shown that many of those young advocates have [...]
UNIVERSAL PRE-K WILL SAVE FAMILIES $17 BILLION IN OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
Universal preschool provides excellent benefits to children and families. It improves school readiness and provides long-term educational benefits. Children who attend preschool are less likely to get arrested later in life or face disciplinary measures such as juvenile incarceration. They are also more likely [...]
“An Unprecedented Turning Back of the Clock on Women’s Freedom” Leaked SCOTUS Opinion Appears to Signal the End of Roe v. Wade
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2022 Contact: William Lutz | lutz@iwpr.org | (202) 684-7534 “An Unprecedented Turning Back of the Clock on Women’s Freedom” Leaked SCOTUS Opinion Appears to Signal the End of Roe v. Wade Washington, D.C. — News reports today revealed a leaked [...]
The Wage Gap for Asian American and Pacific Islander Women by State
May 3rd is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Women’s Equal Pay Day—the day an average AAPI woman must work into the new year to make what the average White man made the year prior. Based on the median annual earnings of anyone who [...]
The Case for Subsidized Child Care
The evidence is clear: Building a strong child care infrastructure is necessary for a prosperous economy. Subsidized child care allows mothers to work more and spend less, resulting in greater savings for retirement and improved economic security later in life. It supports working parents while creating new jobs.
Not Just 9 to 5: Expanding Child Care Options for Parents Working Nontraditional Hours
In the United States, a whopping 43 percent of children have a parent who works “nontraditional hours,” or during the early mornings, nights, or weekends. And yet just 8 percent of child care centers offer care before 7am or after 6pm. While families of all types require care during nontraditional hours, Black and Latinx workers and low-income workers are disproportionately more likely to work during nontraditional hours.
