Wage gap narrowed slightly, and earnings of full-time, year-round women workers rose as COVID-19 cutbacks and job losses mainly hit lower-paid women

It will still take until 2059 for the gender wage gap to fully close, according to analysis by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 15, 2021

Contact: Erin Weber | [email protected] | (646) 719-7021

Washington, DC – The annual gender wage gap for women and men working full-time, year-round narrowed slightly during the pandemic at the same time as the wage gap for all women and men widened because of the disproportionate impact of cutbacks and job losses on women in low-wage jobs, according to an IWPR analysis of U.S. Census Bureau wage gap numbers released yesterday.

Yesterday’s data show the gender wage gap for full-time, year-round working women and men workers fell slightly (statistically insignificant) from 17.7% in 2019 to 17.0% in 2020, but the gender wage gap for all women and men workers widened, from 26.5 to 27.4%, a sign of cutbacks especially in low-wage women’s jobs.

“The increase in women’s real annual earnings for full-time work would be good news in any other year. But given the pandemic, yesterday’s numbers just confirm what we have known for some time: The pandemic has had a disproportionate economic impact on women in low-wage jobs, and they continue to struggle amid the slow recovery, especially women of color,” said President and CEO for IWPR, C. Nicole Mason, Ph.D. “Men continue to out-earn women. At this rate, it will take still take until 2059 before the wage gap closes, which means a lifetime of lower wages for many American women.”

The numbers also reveal pervasive gender and racial inequities in wages overall.

According to IWPR’s analysis, Latinas’ median earnings for full-time, year-round work were $28,911 less than White men’s (57.3% earnings ratio) and Black women’s earnings were $24,420 less (63.9% earnings ratio). These numbers show that the median earnings for a year of full-time work for Latinas ($38,718) can still leave an adult with two children near the poverty line.

Historic analysis by IWPR also shows that at the current rate of wage growth, women are still almost 40 years away from reaching pay equity with men. And each year the wage gap persists, women fall further behind men in lifetime earnings overall earnings and their ability to provide economic security for their families.



The Institute for Women’s Policy Research strives to win economic equity for all women and eliminate barriers to their full participation in society. As a leading national think tank, IWPR builds evidence to shape policies that grow women’s power and influence, close inequality gaps, and improve the economic well-being of families. Learn more at IWPR.org and follow us on Twitter.

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