Long Island’s gender wage gap largest in New York, state data shows
Long Island's gender wage gap largest in New York, state data shows Newsday
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Women on Long Island Face Largest Gender Wage Gap in New York State
Women working on Long Island face the biggest gender wage gap of any region in the state, making a median wage that’s just 80.2% of what their male counterparts earn, according to data from the state Labor Department.
Regional Differences and Wage Gaps
Wage gaps between women and men tend to be bigger in higher-paying job categories, which may account for some of the regional differences. Labor experts believe that the overall gender wage gap persists due to various reasons, and this gap has serious implications for local working families and women’s lifetime earnings.
The Motherhood Penalty
One significant factor contributing to the gender wage gap is the “motherhood penalty,” where women generally exit the labor force for some time when they have children. This period often coincides with prime working years when women would typically be advancing in their careers. The lack of pay and job mobility during this time compounds over time, resulting in lower wages and reduced financial security in retirement.
Pay Inequity in the Legal Field
Pay inequity has long been an issue for women in the legal field. Women in legal occupations who live in Suffolk County earn only 48.3% of their male peers’ median earnings, while women in Nassau County make 67.2% of what men make.
Challenges for Women of Color
Women of color experience even larger disparities in pay. Black women in New York earn a median wage that is 67.8% of their white, male counterparts, while Hispanic women make 57.1%. Women of color often feel the need to overachieve and face bias and discrimination in the workplace.
Industry and Occupation Choices
The careers women choose also contribute to the gender wage gap. Women are more likely to be employed in industries such as healthcare and education, where pay tends to be lower. However, even in high-paying career positions, gaps are evident, indicating bias and discrimination.
Gender Bias in STEM and Finance
Gender bias is prevalent in STEM fields and financial occupations. Women in these fields face challenges in career advancement and pay equity. Starting a family often has ramifications for women’s careers in these competitive industries.
Factors Contributing to Long Island’s Wage Gap
Long Island’s state-leading wage gap can be attributed to higher median wages and a higher proportion of college-educated residents. Gender inequality tends to rise with higher-level occupations.
Summary:
- The wage gap for women on Long Island is the largest among New York State’s regions.
- Pay gaps are widest in higher-paid professional and technical occupations.
- The “motherhood penalty” has a long-term impact on women’s career advancement, lifetime earnings, and retirement.
Conclusion
The gender wage gap on Long Island is a significant issue that affects women’s economic security and lifetime earnings. Addressing this gap requires addressing factors such as the motherhood penalty, bias and discrimination, and industry and occupation choices. Achieving pay equity is essential for promoting gender equality and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere | Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce, and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex |
| Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family | Indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age, and location | |
| 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 | Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments | |
| Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences | Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care | |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value | Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities |
| Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment | Indicator 8.8.1: Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
- Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family
- 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
- Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences
- Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
- Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce, and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex
- Indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age, and location
- Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments
- Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care
- Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities
- Indicator 8.8.1: Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere | Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce, and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex |
| Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family | Indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age, and location | |
| 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 |
