A new analysis has found that women earn “substantially less” in 101 of 112 occupations regularly tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The report, from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, also found that women made at least 25 per cent less in 17 occupations, and earned less even in the 20 most common occupations for women.
The most egregious income disparities were seen with sales-related occupations. In the securities, commodities and financial services markets, women in sales positions had median weekly earnings of $863 (U.S.) compared to $1,389 for men, representing a gap of 40 per cent.
In retail sales, the median weekly income for women was $485 – 32 per cent less than the $719 earned by men.
“This is not about choice, but about inequality in access to the jobs with the highest earnings, and the lack of transparency in who gets paid what,” said Ariane Hegewisch, director of the study.
The study also found that 12 of the 20 most common occupations for women have median weekly earnings that will leave a household of four “at or near poverty.”
