Though it has shown some improvement since 2004, Louisiana still is one of the worst states for women when it comes to their employment and earnings, according to a new report from the Washington, D.C.-based Institute of Women’s Policy Research.
The state snagged the No. 48 spot—with a D- overall grade—on the Status of Women in the States Employment and Earnings Index, which measures each state and the District of Columbia on women’s earnings, the gender wage gap, women’s labor force participation, and women’s representation in professional and managerial occupations.
The report, released Wednesday, examines the economic status of women across the nation to identify areas of progress, based on 2016 data.
Louisiana received an overall composite score of 3.64. Among individual categories examined, the state ranks 43rd in annual earnings, 51st for its gender pay gap, 40th for the percent of women in the labor force, and 38th for the share of women in management and professional positions.
Louisiana women—employed full time and year-round—have median annual earnings of $34,500, the report notes. Women in Louisiana also face one of widest wage gaps in the nation, earning just 69 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make. Only women in Utah and Montana encounter wider pay gaps, at 70% and 70.2%, respectively.
Legislation proposed to close the pay gap in Louisiana has been rejected in recent years. The latest failure came on Tuesday, when the Senate rejected measures to extend the state’s existing equal pay law to include state agencies and prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who discuss their pay.
If current trends continue in Louisiana, women will not see equal pay until 2115, the report estimates. Additionally, roughly 56.1% of all women in Louisiana participate in the labor force. Black women have the highest labor force participation rate, at 59.7%.
And though still low, a growing share of women in Louisiana are in managerial or professional occupations, the institute notes. About 40% of women hold these positions, which tend to require a four-year degree and often have higher wages and employment benefits.
See the full report, and view state specific data for Louisiana.
