SALT LAKE CITY — As Equal Pay Day took place Tuesday, a study released in conjunction with it shows the gravity of the wage gap between men and women in Utah, and how much damage it’s doing to families and the state’s economy.

The analysis, conducted by the National Partnership for Women & Families based on recent census data, indicates that women employed full-time in Utah are paid just 70 cents for every dollar paid to men, a figure corroborated by a recent report from Voices for Utah Children. This totals an average yearly gap of $15,144, totaling nearly $4.8 billion each year. This is the fourth-largest cents-on-the-dollar gap among all 50 states.

“At a time when women’s wages are essential to families and our economy, the persistence of the gender-based wage gap is doing real and lasting damage to women, families, communities and to our nation. It defies common sense that lawmakers are not doing more to stop gender discrimination in wages,” said Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “This analysis shows that women and families are losing thousands of dollars in critical income each year that could pay for significant amounts of food, rent, gas and other basic necessities. The effects ripple throughout our economy.”

Nationally, women working full-time are paid roughly 78 cents for every dollar paid to men, moderately higher than Utah’s 70-cent rate. These gaps increase when including disparities attached to women of color compared with white males.

Related:

Study: Utah has 4th largest gender wage gap in US

Statistically, Utah women earn 70 cents for every dollar men earn, according to a study from Voices for Utah Children. (File Photo)

Per the analysis specific to Utah, 28 percent of female-headed households are currently living below the poverty line. If the wage gap between men and women in Utah were eliminated, a full-time working woman in the state could afford food for over two extra years, mortgage and utilities for 11 extra months, rent for over 17 extra months, or over 4,200 extra gallons of gas.

Since the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, the wage gap is closing at a rate of less than half a cent per year nationally. Experts say this rate will cause it to take another 43 years for men and women to receive the same compensation.

“It has been well documented that the wage gap spans geography, race, industry, education level and other factors, and that it is closing at a glacial pace,” Ness said. “America’s women and families simply cannot afford to wait another four decades for fair pay. It is past time for fair and family friendly workplace policies that will level the playing field and give all women the fair shot they need to support themselves and their families while fully contributing to our economy.”

The study also detailed several measures to help close the gap. These include changes in policy, and members of Congress have reintroduced three proposals of this nature so far this year. Other measures include an increase in minimum wage and protections for pregnant workers.

Findings by state, with detailed analysis based on demographics, are available at The National Partnership for Women and Families.

Contributing: Nkoyo Iyamba

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