Women in the Workforce: Women in Retail Must Work 103 More Days to Equal Men’s Pay, Says Dēmos Report
Although women represent approximately half of the U.S. workforce, a recent report highlights the fact that millions of them work in low-paying jobs.
According to a Dēmos study, "Retail's Choice: How raising wages and improving schedules for women in the retail industry would benefit America," the most common low-paid occupation for women is as a retail salesperson. On average, a retail saleswoman works for $10.58 per hour, a wage that Dēmos noted "keeps a family of three near poverty" even if she secures work hours equivalent to full-time.
The study, which focused on the 7.2 million women in the retail industry, stated the pay gap between men and women causes women an estimated $40.8 billion in annual lost wages. Specifically in retail, the average female salesperson is paid $4 less per hour than male salespeople.
"Overall in sales and related occupations, women must work the equivalent of 103 days longer every year than their male co-workers doing the same job in order to bring home the same paycheck," noted the report.
If current trends continue, women will reportedly lose $381 billion in retail wages in 2022.
"The retail industry today faces a crucial choice," wrote author of the study and Dēmos Senior Policy Analyst Amy Traub. "As the industry grows in the coming years, will its largest companies shift toward wages and schedules that allow hard-working women in retail stores to break out of poverty, boost the economy, and promote broad societal benefits such as improved public health and opportunity for the next generation? Or will they continue on the present course, including the 28-cent pay gap in sales and related occupations, and billions of dollars in taxpayers subsidies to large and profitable companies that don't pay their employees enough to live on? This is retail's choice."
Walmart has been recognized as the largest private employer of women in the U.S. The retailer acknowledged 807,000 of its employees are female and represent 57 percent of their American workforce. Walmart, however, has faced lawsuits based on alleged gender discrimination, from job assignments, pay, and promotions.
"I cant even tell you the last time that I bought my daughter an outfit; I can't even tell you the last time that I bought myself an outfit," said Lashanda Myrick, a Walmart employee from Denver, Colorado who earns $10.20, according to The Huffington Post. "It's crazy, especially when your kids are into the fashion and you can't get them what they want. It kind of breaks my heart."
Walmart spokesman Kory Lundberg stated Myrick is a "great example" of the opportunity the retailer provides employees. Lundberg noted Myrick went from temporary associated earning a little more than $8 an hour to a full-time employee in less than a year.
According to Traub, larger retailers, such as Walmart, can increase wages to the equivalent of $25,000 a year for full-time, year-round work. As a result, 437,000 female workers could escape poverty levels. Retailers can also strengthen their non-discrimination policies and more opportunities for women to advance. Also, the GDP would increase to $15.7 billion from $12.1 billion and create 105,000 to 136,000 new jobs.
For more of the Dēmos report, click here.
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