There is a significant wage gap between workers of different nationalities, races, and characteristics. These disparities are referred to as wage gaps.
What is the wage gap?
The wage gap is the difference in earnings between two types of workers. For example, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, and women of color still earn much less than white men.
Examples of wage gaps: gender, race, and more
Wage gaps include differences in pay between workers of various nationalities, races, ages, and professions.
Gender wage gap
The gender wage gap is 82 cents on the dollar, according to several sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale data. The controlled gender wage gap, which compares the earnings of women and men with similar jobs and qualifications, is 98 cents on the dollar, according to Payscale.
Racial wage gap
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports racial wage gaps across all occupational groups. Latino and Black workers earn significantly less than white and Asian workers. The wage gaps are particularly sharp in management and specialized professions. Asian men earn an average weekly wage of $1,883, white men earn $1,599, Latino men earn $1,316, and Black men earn $1,232. Among all racial and ethnic groups, women in those groups earn less than men. Asian women earn more than some men (less than Asian men but more than men in other groups). Asian women earn an average weekly wage of $1,143, white women earn $905, Black women earn $764, and Latina women earn $705.
Other wage gaps
There are other wage gaps to consider beyond gender and racial wage differences. These gaps include:
- Profession: Of course, some professions pay more than others. These often include jobs that require more education and training or in-demand skills. However, demand is not the only factor determining wage ranges.
- Age: Average wages peak between the ages of 45 and 54 for workers across the United States. Then, for various reasons, including age discrimination, wages decline. While health, career changes, and other factors may influence these numbers, it is important to note that the average retirement age for workers in the U.S. is 60 to 62 years for women and 62 to 64 years for men – after many years of declining wages.
How to address wage gaps in the workplace
Whether you are dealing with blatant discrimination, unconscious bias, or a lack of support, the first thing to understand about addressing the wage gap is that it is not your fault. You did not create the circumstances under which you struggle. Balancing your personal field is not just a matter of learning how to negotiate better or advocate for yourself more.
However, there are things you can do to increase your chances of getting the pay and recognition you deserve:
- Be true to yourself and your career path: Look for opportunities to achieve your goals, whether that means seeking a promotion or a pay raise or moving to a new job with another employer.
- Develop your skill set: Always strive to acquire new skills for your resume, whether through attending online classes provided by your employer, obtaining a certification, or volunteering for a project that helps you gain new knowledge.
- Give
- Prepare a backup plan for your backup plan. Keep your resume updated and maintain a strong professional network. If possible, create an emergency fund that contains a few months’ worth of expenses to help you weather a layoff (or in case you need to resign from your current job).
- U.S. Department of Labor. “5 Facts About the State of the Gender Pay Gap.”
- Payscale. “The State of the Gender Pay Gap in 2021.”
- Roy J. Herr and J.A. Klerman. “Gender Differences in Needing and Taking Leave.”
- Pew Research Center. “Chapter 6: Time in Work and Leisure, Patterns by Gender and Family Structure.”
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity, 2020.”
- History.com. “When Computer Coding Was a ‘Woman’s Job’.”
- Janet Abbate. “Recoding Gender.” MIT Press, 2012.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Median Usual Weekly Earnings of Full-time Wage and Salary Workers by Age and Sex.”
- Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. “What Explains the Widening Gap in Retirement Ages by Education?”
When job searching, don’t stop looking after a good interview or a promising job opportunity. Remember, the more options you have, the better positioned you’ll be – regardless of what happens next.
Key Takeaways
The wage gap is a difference in pay between two groups of workers, such as men and women. Different types of wage gaps include the gender pay gap, racial and ethnic pay gaps, and occupational wage gaps. To address wage gaps in your career path, learn the statistics, stay true to your career trajectory, and remain open to new opportunities.
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Sources:
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-is-a-wage-gap-5220357
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