Gender Pay Equity: Closing the Gap Report Launch
Why Pay Equity Has Stalled in New York City and the Urgent Need for Action
Gender Pay Equity in New York City: 60 Years After the Equal Pay Act, Women in All Fields Still Make Less than Men
Yesterday, Women Creating Change (WCC), in partnership with The New School's Center for New York City Affairs, released our new report on the state of gender pay equity in New York City. Titled Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Why Pay Equity Has Stalled in New York City and the Urgent Need for Action, the report sheds light on the persistent gender pay gap issue that affects women—especially women of color—across all age groups and professions, even six decades after the passage of the federal Equal Pay Act.
You can also read The New York Times story about the report.
We firmly believe that gender pay equity is not just an economic concern but a moral imperative. When women, especially women of color, are consistently paid less than their male counterparts for the same work, it perpetuates systemic discrimination, reinforces harmful stereotypes, and stifles the potential of our entire city.
To launch the report, we hosted an event at The New School, featuring an exceptional assembly of influential women, including First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Council Member Gale A. Brewer, Interim President of The New School Dr. Donna Shalala, who offered welcome remarks sharing their personal experiences with pay inequity. Then, we hosted an incredibly thoughtful and insightful panel, featuring Jennifer Jones Austin,Esq., CEO of FPWA, Camille Emeagwali, Senior Vice President of Programs and Strategic Learning at The New York Women’s Foundation, Lorraine Hariton, President and CEO of Catalyst, Michelle Jackson, Executive Director of Human Services Council of NY, and Beverly Neufeld, President of PowHer NY (moderated by Maricella Herrera Avila).
Key Takeaways
On average, women in New York City earn 90 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. While the ratio has fluctuated some over time, this represents less than the 92 cents received in 1997.
While this phenomena affects all women in New York City, it disproportionately impacts women of color. In 2022, for every dollar earned by a white man:
- White women earned 86 cents
- Asian women earned 72 cents
- Black women earned 57 cents
- Hispanic/Latina women earned 54 cents
Nationally, women earn 87 cents for every dollar earned by a man. Although that represents progress from the 59 cents for every dollar women earned when the Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963, progress has slowed over the past three decades.
Recommendations
The report outlines several key policy recommendations in order to mediate the pay inequity illustrated throughout the report. Specifically, we recommend New York City and State:
- Address human services pay inequities affecting predominantly women of color in the nonprofit human services workforce at the City and State level in line with the #JustPay campaign.
- Raise the pay of childcare workers who are among the lowest-paid workers and are overwhelmingly women and predominantly women of color.
- Restore minimum wage purchasing power by indexing the minimum wage to match rising labor productivity and increasing costs of living.
- Enhance tax credits benefiting low-income families.
- Raise unemployment insurance benefits for low- and moderate-income workers and take actions to improve accessibility to benefits.
- Make voting easier in order to support greater civic participation by women.
We appreciate your support and commitment to achieving gender pay equity in New York City. Together, we can work towards a fair and just future for all. Please feel free to explore the full report, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like to further engage in this critical conversation.
About
Women Creating Change (WCC), formerly known as the Women’s City Club of New York, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan activist organization dedicated to advancing women’s rights and shaping the future of New York City. Founded in 1915, WCC works to advance gender and racial equality by equipping women of color, women experiencing financial hardship, and gender-expansive individuals, with the knowledge, tools, and resources to advocate for the issues that matter most to them. WCC collaborates with partners, policymakers, and advocacy groups to drive real change in economic opportunity, education, healthcare, safety, reproductive justice, and environmental justice. WCC connects women with key stakeholders to learn, act, and engage. We empower women to lead change, shape policy, and strengthen communities, redesigning systems for a more equitable New York City. At WCC, we believe every woman has the power to make a difference. Visit wccny.org.
Media Contact
For interview requests or media inquiries, please contact Lynsey Billet at [email protected] or 347-361-8449.