Employment grows but earnings lag for Allen County women, new report shows – The Journal Gazette

Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Allen County: An SDG Perspective

A 2025 report update by Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Community Research Institute, commissioned by the Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne, assesses the status of local women and girls. The findings, based on U.S. Census data (2009-2023) and targeted surveys, are analyzed here through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Economic Security and Decent Work (SDG 8 & SDG 5)

H3: Labor Force Participation

• In Allen County, 74.7% of women aged 20-64 participate in the labor force, a rate slightly higher than state and national averages.
• Women with minor children demonstrate comparable, and at times higher, participation rates, highlighting their essential role in the economy.

H3: The Gender Pay Gap: A Challenge to SDG 8.5

The persistent gender pay gap directly contravenes SDG Target 8.5, which calls for equal pay for work of equal value.

• The median earnings gap between men and women in Allen County for 2019-2023 was $16,173.
• This gap widened by $1,482 from the 2014-2018 period (in 2023 dollars), indicating a regression in achieving pay equity.
• The disparity is not solely attributable to part-time work, as data confirms women in full-time positions also earn less than their male counterparts.

H3: Progress in Earnings Distribution

Positive trends align with goals to reduce poverty (SDG 1) and promote economic inclusion (SDG 10).

1. The share of full-time working women earning less than $25,000 annually was more than halved, dropping from 23.7% (2009-2013) to 11.7% (2019-2023).
2. The percentage of full-time working women earning over $100,000 increased from 3.2% to 8.8% over the same period.

Household Income, Poverty, and Inequality (SDG 1 & SDG 10)

H3: Disparities by Family Structure

Analysis of family income reveals stark inequalities that challenge progress towards SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), particularly for female-headed households.

• Single-mother households with children under 18 report the lowest median incomes, with an hourly equivalent of $16.99 (full-time, 2023 dollars).
• In sharp contrast, single-father households earned a significantly higher equivalent of $25.58 per hour.
• Married-couple families consistently reported the highest median incomes.

Workplace Conditions and Social Protections (SDG 5 & SDG 8)

H3: The Demand for Workplace Flexibility (SDG 5.4)

Survey data highlights a critical need for flexible work arrangements, which supports the recognition of unpaid care work (SDG 5.4) and the promotion of decent work for all (SDG 8).

• 86% of survey respondents stated that schedule flexibility is very or somewhat important in future employment.
• This demand conflicts with the current reality, where 37% of respondents report having little to no flexibility in their schedules.
• For respondents with caregiving responsibilities, schedule flexibility (39%) was a more critical need than the ability to work from home (12%).

H3: Long-Term Financial Security and Social Protection

Barriers to long-term financial security impact gender equality over the life course, highlighting a need for stronger social protection policies.

• Only 49% of women surveyed have retirement savings in their own name.
• The primary barrier to saving is affordability, cited by 50% of those without an account, linking directly to the gender pay gap.
• 60% of women do not plan to rely on a partner’s or spouse’s retirement savings, underscoring the necessity for individual economic empowerment to achieve the targets of SDG 5.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 1: No Poverty

• The article highlights the low median income of single-mother families, which is a significant factor contributing to poverty. It states that “single-mother families… had the lowest median. Allen County single-mother households earned the equivalent of $16.99 an hour in 2023 dollars.” This low income level places these families at a higher risk of living in poverty.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• This is a central theme of the article. The entire report focuses on the status of women, specifically addressing economic disparities. The article explicitly discusses the “wage gap,” the impact of caregiving responsibilities on women’s labor force participation, and income differences between male- and female-headed single-parent households.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article delves into key aspects of decent work, including labor force participation rates, earnings, and the quality of employment. It analyzes women’s participation in the workforce, the persistent wage gap where women earn less than men, and the desire for workplace flexibility, which is a component of a decent work environment.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article directly addresses economic inequality between genders within Allen County. It provides specific data on the earnings gap (“the difference between men and women’s median earnings in Allen County for 2019 to 2023 was $16,173”) and income disparities between different family types, highlighting the economic inequality faced by women, particularly single mothers.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 1: No Poverty

1. Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
   • The article’s focus on the low earnings of women, especially the finding that single-mother households have the lowest median income, directly relates to this target. These low income levels are a primary driver of poverty for women and their children.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work… and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family.
   • The article connects women’s labor force participation to caregiving responsibilities, noting that women with young children are less likely to work. The high demand for schedule flexibility (“86% said that was very or somewhat important”) is linked to managing these unpaid caregiving duties.
2. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
   • The analysis of women’s labor force participation rates (74.7%) and the barriers they face, such as lack of flexibility and lower pay, are directly related to ensuring their full and effective participation in economic life.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • This target is explicitly addressed through the article’s detailed discussion of the gender wage gap. The statement that “women working full time have lower earnings than men with full-time jobs” and the specific figure of a $16,173 median earnings gap directly point to the challenge of achieving “equal pay for work of equal value.”

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… sex.
   • The article’s entire premise is to assess the economic status and inclusion of women. Data on lower earnings, income disparities for single mothers, and lower rates of retirement savings for women (“Forty nine percent of women surveyed had retirement savings in their own name, while 44% did not”) are all measures of their level of economic inclusion.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

For Target 8.5 (Equal pay for work of equal value)

• Indicator: The gender pay gap in median earnings. The article provides a precise figure: “the difference between men and women’s median earnings in Allen County for 2019 to 2023 was $16,173.” This can be tracked over time to measure progress.

For Target 5.5 (Women’s participation in economic life)

• Indicator: Female labor force participation rate. The article states that “74.7% of women in Allen County ages 20 to 64 were either working or looking for work,” which serves as a direct indicator.

For Target 1.2 (Proportion of population living in poverty)

• Indicator: Proportion of the population with low income. The article provides data points that act as proxies for poverty risk, such as the percentage of women earning less than $25,000 annually (11.7% for 2019-2023) and the median hourly equivalent income for single-mother households ($16.99/hour).

For Target 5.4 (Recognition of unpaid care work)

• Indicator: Need for workplace flexibility among caregivers. While not a direct measure of time spent on care, the survey result that “39% [of caregivers] said they need schedule flexibility at work” serves as an implied indicator of the conflict between unpaid care duties and paid work structures.

For Target 10.2 (Economic inclusion)

• Indicator: Proportion of women with retirement savings. The finding that “Forty nine percent of women surveyed had retirement savings in their own name, while 44% did not” is a clear indicator of long-term financial inclusion and security.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: journalgazette.net