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Wyoming women earn country's most disparate wages

Wyoming women are still bringing home the least income in the nation when compared with men. That’s according to a new study by the National Women’s Law Center.

According to 2011 data, Wyoming once again ranks fifty-first in the nation among all states and the District of Columbia when it comes to the wage gap between men and women. The study analyzed census data and found that women in Wyoming make only 66 cents for every dollar that men earn.

Senior Study analyst Kate Gallagher Robbins says that training women to take jobs in the traditionally male energy industry is one way to narrow the gap. She also says that raising the minimum wage, which is currently at the federal rate of 7 dollars and 25 cents, would have a big impact on women… who are disproportionately represented in the lowest paying jobs.

“We know that nationally women make up two thirds of workers who make federal minimum wage or less. So again, this is an area where if you had a policy that provided for a higher minimum wage you’d likely see some closure in the wage gap as well because you’re raising sort of the floor for workers who are making in the bottom level of the income distribution.”

A bill currently in the US Senate proposes to raise the minimum wage to 10 dollars and 10 cents an hour.

Sara Hossaini is a reporter for Wyoming Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She brings a blend of documentary journalism and public interest communications experience developed through her work as a nonprofit multimedia consultant and Associate Producer on national PBS documentary films through groups such as the Center for Asian American Media, Fenton Communications and The Working Group. She likes to travel, to get her hands in the dirt and to explore her creative side through music, crafts and dance.
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