A new report from the Center for American Progress Action Fund entitled, “Lifetime Losses: The Career Wage Gap” examines how the gender wage gap—the annual difference in median wages between men and women who are employed full-time—accumulates over a 40-year period.
The lost wages for women over this period of work add up significantly no matter what the woman’s level of education, occupation, or location, but sizeable differences exist within these categories. The map below provides data on lost wages for women based on education and major occupations in all 50 states. The data was calculated using 10-year age groups of women and men aged 25-64.
This data points to the need for action on the part of businesses, schools, and government to bring about real equality for women in the workplace. Several pieces of legislation currently before Congress could help achieve this goal, and businesses could take voluntary steps to review their compensation schemes and ensure pay equity for their employees. Only through steps such as these can we overcome such economic discrepancies.
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