New Census Bureau Numbers Shed Light on Equal Pay Status for Women

September 12. 2023

For Immediate Release
Sep 12, 2023

Media Contact
Nazirah Ahmad
[email protected]

The new income data shows equal pay disparities based on race and gender

Sept. 12, 2023 — Today the U.S Census Bureau released new wage data from 2022, which shows the wage gap for women remains pernicious and stagnant. According to the new data, for every $1 a man working full-time year-round is paid, a woman working full-time, year-round typically is paid just 84 cents. When looking at all earners, including part-time, part-year, and seasonal, women, on average, only make 78 cents compared to men. The pay disparity is even more severe for most women of color.

Here is the new breakdown on the pay gaps by race and gender:
* Full-time refers to comparing only those working full-time, year-round jobs
* All earners refers to comparing all whose income includes part-time, part-year, and seasonal work

All women compared to all men
Full time: 84 cents
All earners: 78 cents

Black women compared to non-Hispanic white men
Full time: 69 cents
All earners: 66 cents

Latina women compared to non-Hispanic white men
Full time: 57 cents
All earners: 52 cents

Asian American women compared to non-Hispanic white men
Full time: 99 cents
All earners: 89 cents

Note: Data on the pay gaps experienced by Native women is expected to be released later this week. Data on pay variations for the Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (NHPI) community is expected to be released later this year.

This year marks 10 years of the Equal Pay Today campaign, a national coalition of over 40 nonprofit and advocacy organizations that advocate for pay equity for women and LGBTQIA+ people, especially women of color. Equal Pay Today is a project led by Equal Rights Advocates.

“Each year, these numbers show us the persistence of gender and racial wage gaps that women continue to face,” said Deborah J. Vagins, director of Equal Pay Today campaign, a project at Equal Rights Advocates. “The numbers also show us the critical importance of legislative and executive branch solutions that would help millions of families across the country. Our policymakers have the power to ensure equity for all workers, to combat pay discrimination, and to lift countless families out of poverty by adopting policy solutions that address the key drivers of the wage gaps and ensure women are paid fairly.”

The 2023-2024 Equal Pay Today policy agenda offers solutions to address these pay gaps and promote wage justice. Some recommendations include: implementing transparent pay practices and accountability mechanisms; strengthening current equal pay laws and passing new legislation to increase equity; addressing workplace harassment and the subminimum and tipped wages for vulnerable workers; and supporting paid family leave, paid sick and safe leave, and other workplace protections.

To speak with equal pay experts from Equal Rights Advocates, contact Blake Case at (601) 832-6079 or [email protected]