In some ways, there has been great progress in breaking down gender barriers. Take, for instance, the fact that all three gubernatorial candidates this past election were women.
But when it comes to dollars and cents — when it comes to the paychecks that cover rent, food, and more — progress has been slow.
Oregon women still earn significantly less than men, the most recently available data shows. In 2021, the typical Oregon woman earned [84 cents for every dollar](https://www.ocpp.org/data-for-people/#FAQ8) that the typical Oregon man earned — the same level as in 2018 and only slightly better than a decade ago.
“What’s 16 cents?,” some may say. While that gap may not sound like much, it adds up to about a $10,000 difference over the course of a year. Over a lifetime, women lose out on hundreds of thousands in income.
For women of color, the pay gap is even more severe. December 8 is the national [Latina Equal Pay Day](https://sloss.dso.iastate.edu/programs—events/start-smart/equal-pay-days#:~:text=Latina%20women’s%20Equal%20Pay%20Day,earnings%20(NWLC%2C%202021)). This day represents how far into the year Latinas must work to be paid what men were paid the previous year.
Latina Oregonians face both race and gender-based discrimination and structural barriers in the labor market. There is a long history of Latina women facing [occupational segregation](https://equitablegrowth.org/the-intersectional-wage-gaps-faced-by-latina-women-in-the-united-states/), being relegated to low-paying industries, or having the work they perform [undervalued](https://latino.ucla.edu/research/latina-care-work-covid19/). Nationally, Latinas earn just [57 cents for every dollar](https://sloss.dso.iastate.edu/programs—events/start-smart/equal-pay-days#:~:text=Latina%20women’s%20Equal%20Pay%20Day,earnings%20(NWLC%2C%202021)) earned by a white non-Hispanic man.
A pay gap remains when women of color are compared to men of the same race or ethnicity. Latina Oregonians earn between 72 to 89 cents on the dollar to Latino men. The gap is largest for South American Latina Oregonians.
Learn more by visiting [Data for the People](https://www.ocpp.org/data-for-people/), our online resource providing the latest publicly available data on the economic well-being of Oregonians.
In this episode of Policy for the People, we discuss legislative efforts to better protect Oregonians from unfair debt collection practices and provide needed funding for Employment Related Day Care.
Gender pay gap remains wide in Oregon
Gender pay gap remains wide in Oregon
Gender pay gap remains wide in Oregon
In some ways, there has been great progress in breaking down gender barriers. Take, for instance, the fact that all three gubernatorial candidates this past election were women.
But when it comes to dollars and cents — when it comes to the paychecks that cover rent, food, and more — progress has been slow.
Oregon women still earn significantly less than men, the most recently available data shows. In 2021, the typical Oregon woman earned [84 cents for every dollar](https://www.ocpp.org/data-for-people/#FAQ8) that the typical Oregon man earned — the same level as in 2018 and only slightly better than a decade ago.
“What’s 16 cents?,” some may say. While that gap may not sound like much, it adds up to about a $10,000 difference over the course of a year. Over a lifetime, women lose out on hundreds of thousands in income.
For women of color, the pay gap is even more severe. December 8 is the national [Latina Equal Pay Day](https://sloss.dso.iastate.edu/programs—events/start-smart/equal-pay-days#:~:text=Latina%20women’s%20Equal%20Pay%20Day,earnings%20(NWLC%2C%202021)). This day represents how far into the year Latinas must work to be paid what men were paid the previous year.
Latina Oregonians face both race and gender-based discrimination and structural barriers in the labor market. There is a long history of Latina women facing [occupational segregation](https://equitablegrowth.org/the-intersectional-wage-gaps-faced-by-latina-women-in-the-united-states/), being relegated to low-paying industries, or having the work they perform [undervalued](https://latino.ucla.edu/research/latina-care-work-covid19/). Nationally, Latinas earn just [57 cents for every dollar](https://sloss.dso.iastate.edu/programs—events/start-smart/equal-pay-days#:~:text=Latina%20women’s%20Equal%20Pay%20Day,earnings%20(NWLC%2C%202021)) earned by a white non-Hispanic man.
A pay gap remains when women of color are compared to men of the same race or ethnicity. Latina Oregonians earn between 72 to 89 cents on the dollar to Latino men. The gap is largest for South American Latina Oregonians.
Learn more by visiting [Data for the People](https://www.ocpp.org/data-for-people/), our online resource providing the latest publicly available data on the economic well-being of Oregonians.
Audrey Mechling
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How to Build Economic Justice in Oregon
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Latest Posts
Unfair debt collection practices and child care funding in the legislative spotlight
In this episode of Policy for the People, we discuss legislative efforts to better protect Oregonians from unfair debt collection practices and provide needed funding for Employment Related Day Care.
Equal Pay Day should matter to all
Women still make only 84 cents for every dollar men earn.
The Kicker Deepens Racial Inequality
There are ways to reform the kicker that would produce more equitable results — reforms that would be good for Black, brown, and white Oregonians
Your donation helps build Economic Justice in Oregon
Your donation helps build Economic Justice in Oregon