Marty Henry wrote:
>
> When I heard this on TV on the morning news, I wondered if this was suppose to
> make me feel better. I couldn't decide if it was a celebration or wake!
>
> Marty
> mhenry@mcrel.org
> 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