The AFL-CIO’s Department for Professional Employees has published a “Fact Sheet” entitled: “Professional Women: Vital Statistics.” Among the findings:

The wage gap between sexes still plagues the American workforce. In 2004, median annual earnings for full-time year-round workers (which includes self-employed workers and other sources of pay differences such as annual bonuses) demonstrate that women earned just 76.5% as much as men. Out of 19 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, the United States has the largest gender earnings gap, save for Austria and Switzerland.

In 2006, median weekly earnings for women were 80.8% those of men. For most women of color, the earnings gap was even larger:

• African American women earned just 70 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2006.
• Hispanic and Latina women earned just 59 cents for every dollar men earned.
• Only Asian American women’s earnings were closer to parity with men’s: in 2006, they earned 94% that of all men. However, they earned 79% as much as Asian American men.

The wage gap is also more pronounced for older women: in 2006, women over 25 earned 79% that of men in the same age group while women aged 16 - 24 earned 95% as much as their male peers.

 

• WATCH LISTS:  Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - Fair Pay Act of 2007 (Norton) - Paycheck Fairness Act