from Linda Purrington,
lpurring@earthlink.net
Wage Gap Between the Sexes Is Narrowing
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON -- The strong economy and an increase in the minimum wage
have helped narrow the wage gap between the sexes by about 3 cents on the dollar
since last spring, the Clinton Administration has reported.
"White, college-educated males have always done the best, but as the
economy gets tighter, other people get more opportunities," Rick McGahey,
the Assistant Labor Secretary for Policy, said on Monday.
With unemployment at its lowest level in 28 years, companies are
scrambling to find and keep workers, opening higher paying jobs and promotions
to women and members of minorities.
In addition, since women still tend to be concentrated in the
lowest-paying jobs, the increase in the minimum wage to $5.15 an hour last
summer is also credited with helping to improve their earning power
compared with men, McGahey said.
In the 12 months ending March 31, the median weekly wage for women
working full time grew 6.6 percent, to $455 from $427, the department said.
Men's median wage grew by 2.4 percent, to $596 from $582.
As a result, women earned 76 cents for every dollar men made in the
first quarter of 1998, compared with 73 cents in the same period of 1997.
Wednesday, June 10, 1998
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