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Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

WB Press Release: Women Gaining in Pay but Still Lag Behind Men According to U.S. Department of Labor Report [06/10/1998]

For more information call: (202) 219-6611

The U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau released a report today that shows women are still earning less than men 35 years after the Equal Pay Act was signed into law. According to the report, "EQUAL PAY: A Thirty-Five Year Perspective" women now earn 76 cents for every $1 made by a man. In 1963, women made 59 cents for every $1 a man earned.

"We have made progress in the last 35 years," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman. "But this report shows we still have a lot of work to do, because as long as there is a pay gap--we still have a values gap. Equal pay is not a privilege, it is a right. That is why this administration has been fighting to close the wage gap and open up opportunity. It is why President Clinton is so committed to initiatives like family leave, child care, the minimum wage, lifelong learning and pension expansion."

The Equal Pay Act was signed by President John F. Kennedy in 1963. It amended the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit employers from discriminating against women in the workforce and prohibited employers from discriminating against women on the basis of sex by paying wages to women at a rate less than that paid to men for work performed under similar working conditions and requiring "equal skill, effort and responsibility."

In 1963 women were earning, on average, about 59% of what men were earning on an annual basis. According to the Women's Bureau report, the Equal Pay Act has helped to end some of the more blatant instances of wage discrimination, but has not eliminated the wage gap between men and women.

"The Equal Pay Act has been one of the laws that laid a foundation for the equal treatment of women in the workforce and has helped improve the standard of living and economic well being of working women and their families," said Ida L. Castro, Acting Director of the Women's Bureau. "But our work is not done, and the Women's Bureau will continue to serve as a voice for working women and a partner with business, government and labor to further women's economic opportunity and security."

The Women's Bureau was created by Congress on June 5, 1920 to promote the welfare of wage earning women. The new Equal Pay report, released as the Bureau celebrates its 78th Anniversary, chronicles the struggle of women in the workplace and reviews the history of the Equal Pay Act between 1960 and 1998.

"Equal pay is in America's best interests because it makes good business sense," said Herman. "Women make America work. We know that the number of women in the labor force has gone up nearly 20 percent in the last 20 years. Equal pay is essential to attracting good workers and keeping America competitive in this global economy."

Specific sections of the report include the following: The Early Impact of the Equal Pay Act: 1960-1970; Making Our Place in the Work Force: 1975-1985; Moving Forward--Making a Difference: 1985-1997 and Issues To Watch in The New Century.

"EQUAL PAY: A Thirty-Five Year Perspective" is available on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb. Information can also be obtained by calling 1-800-347-3741.

Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.