Young Women Value Career - Building Gender Balanced Business

A new report published by the Pew Research Center shows that young women now value a high-paying profession more than their male counterparts.

• 66% of women 18-34 put career high on their life priority list, compared to 59% of men in the same age range

• In 1997, only 56% of women said the same, compared to 58% of men

Middle-aged women (35-64) are also increasingly saying that having success in a high-paying career is “one of the most important things” or “very important”, at a rate of 42% of women versus 43% of middle-aged men. Only 26% of women in that age range said the same in 1997.

SALARY DISPARITY PERSISTS

In 1979, women earned about 62% of what men earned; the number rose steadily until 2004, but has plateaued since.

• In 2010, full-time or salaried working women had median weekly earnings of $669, compared to $824 for men

• However, the wage gap is smaller for younger workers aged 16-34, with women earning over 90% of what men do