Summary
The gender pay gap in the United States has widened recently, with men's earnings rising while women's remain the same. This has caused the earnings ratio, showing how much women earn compared to men, to decrease. The gap is influenced by several factors, including job types, caregiving responsibilities, and workplace biases.
Key Facts
- The gender pay gap in the U.S. has widened for the second year, according to the Census Bureau.
- Men's earnings grew by 3.7% between 2023 and 2024, while women's earnings did not change much.
- The female-to-male earnings ratio fell to 80.9% in 2024 from 82.7% in 2023.
- Women are more often in lower-paying jobs like education and administration.
- Women face job promotion challenges, partly due to caregiving roles.
- Many women report feeling greater pressure for home responsibilities than men.
- The “motherhood penalty” affects women’s earnings when they have children.
