"Women are a significant part of the workforce and economy of every state in the country. A slow crawl toward equal pay is a drag on each state's economy, not to mention the U.S. economy overall," said IWPR President Heidi Hartmann, Ph.D.
A recent IWPR analysis found that, if current trends continue, White women will not see equal pay until 2056, while women of color will have to wait much longer: Black women will not see pay equity until 2124, while Hispanic women must wait 231 more years until 2248.
"We will celebrate Equal Pay Day in two weeks on April 4, but there is no place in America where women can hope to see equal pay in the near future," Dr. Hartmann said. "The United States is one of the most innovative economies in the world. We know that access to better jobs, child care, and paid leave would help close the stubborn wage gap between men and women. We shouldn't have to wait several decades, even centuries, to solve this problem."
The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that conducts and communicates research to inspire public dialogue, shape policy, and improve the lives and opportunities of women of diverse backgrounds, circumstances, and experiences.