Gender pay gap narrowest on record

Gender pay gap overview: 

• Who: The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data that shows the pay gap between men and women in the workforce is the lowest on record. 
• Why: The government began collecting data on the pay gap between men and women in 1979. The latest data shows women are currently making around 84% of the median income of men. 
• Where: The gender pay gap affects employees nationwide. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data that revealed the pay gap between women and men is lower than ever.

The data, which Axios analyzed, showed full-time working women now make around 84% of the median income of their male counterparts, the lowest difference since the United States began collecting pay gap data in 1979.

In addition to a decrease in the pay gap, the gap between men and women in the workforce in general reached a record low of 10.5%, Axios reports. 

A total of 68.2% of men and 57.7% of women are in the workforce, according to the data, with Axios attributing a big part of the gap closing to a rise in remote and flexible work schedules. 

More than 70% of mothers in workforce have children younger than 5, report says

As of June, the amount of mothers in the workforce with children younger than 5 increased to 70.4%, a number higher than ever recorded before, according to a report by the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution. 

The Hamilton Project attributed the increase in employment for mothers with young children to “evolving norms around working,” tight labor markets, a growing need to work despite having young children in the home and “the changing nature and compensation for work.” 

Despite women reportedly making a faster return to work post-pandemic than men, COVID-era funding for child care is set to run out this month, which could put daycares out of business or force them to increase their rates, Axios reports. A decrease in daycare options could force mothers of young children to leave work and return home, threatening to widen the gap between women and men in the workforce once more. 

In another recent lawsuit involving women and pay, a group of five female professors filed a class action against Vassar College earlier this month, arguing the school discriminates against them by allegedly paying them less than their male counterparts. 

What are your thoughts on the progress women appear to be making in closing the gender pay gap? Let us know in the comments.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Verizon retailer Your Wireless allegedly made managers perform off-the-clock work
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau settles employee discrimination lawsuit for $6M
• Spirit class action alleges airline prevents employees from using FMLA benefits
• Vassar College class action claims school underpays female professors