Report says women in Utah earn nearly 30% less than men

Various reports indicate it could take anywhere between 40-to-130 years to close the gender pay gap. Photo: Sandy Millar

LOGAN, Utah — A new report from the Utah Women & Leadership Project at Utah State University said that women in Utah earn approximately 30% less than men.

The figure puts Utah as one of the worst states in the country when it comes to gender pay equality. Roughly 60% of women over age 16 participate in the labor force in the state.

Nationally, women earn 16-18% less than men.

Estimates suggest that over a 40-year career, the wage gap can amount to a lifetime earnings deficit of $80k to $800k.

“In a recent statewide poll, Utah women identified low wages and gender role expectations as their two main challenges; many also perceived their status to be lower than men’s in the state,” the report said.

“A national study ranked Utah as the second most sexist state and another found that sexist attitudes are associated with lower pay for women.”

Dr. Stacey Madsen, who founded the project that produced the report, told FOX13:

“The states that have made the most progress are states that have more discussions, more public policies, have major companies in the state stepping forward, talking about that making changes of policies within their companies.”

“That’s a real issue when women are really drawn to certain areas and the pay is particularly low,” she said referring to the education and hospitality fields.