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.
Dependence on Men, the Market, or the State: The Rhetoric and Reality of Welfare Reform
Much of the rhetoric surrounding the passage of "welfare reform" legislation during the 1980s, as well as the campaign promises of the current administration "to end welfare as we know it," negatively characterize income obtains from Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).
Self Employment Versus Wage and Salary Jobs: How Do Women Fare?
Self-employment is being suggested as an alternative to full-time, wage or salary jobs both for women wishing for more flexible schedules and for women facing under- or unemployment.
New IWPR Study Examines the Benefits of Alternative Employment Patterns for Male and Female Workers
The quality of jobs created in the 1980s- and whether these were "good" jobs or "bad" jobs---has been the source of a highly charged debate.
Exploring the Characteristics of Self-Employment and Part-Time Work Among Women
DOWNLOAD REPORT The quality of jobs created during the 1980s-- and whether these were "good" jobs or "bad" jobs-- has been the source of a highly charged debate. The quality of jobs is of increasing importance to women as their financial responsibility [...]
What is Temporary Disability Insurance?
Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) is a program that provides paid leave to employees who need to take time off from work due to illness that is not related to their work.
