A recent study shows Oklahoma women among the lowest full-time average earnings in the nation.
On the low end of the scale, Oklahoma and Louisiana women had average earnings of $591 per week, compared to Massachusetts at $900 per week, the state with the highest median earnings.
The information is found in The Southwest Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, Women’s Earnings in Oklahoma – 2013.
Regional Commissioner Stanley Suchman said the study found that in 2013, Oklahoma women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median weekly earnings of $591 or 78.2 percent of the $756 median weekly earnings of their male counterparts. The same study for 2012 found women in Oklahoma earned 83 percent of their male counterparts.
The ratio of earnings between women and men has generally narrowed over the last several decades. The Oklahoma ratio of women’s to men’s earnings reached a series high of 87.2 percent in 2009 and a series low of 68.0 percent in 1999.
Nationally, women earned $706 per week in 2013 or 82.1 percent of the $860 full-time U.S. median weekly figure for men.
The 2013 ratios of female-to-male median weekly earnings ranged from a high of 91.3 percent in Vermont to a low of 68.6 percent in Wyoming.
-----
KGOU relies on voluntary contributions from readers and listeners to further its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. To contribute to our efforts, make your donation online, or contact our Membership department.
