Texas Women's Foundation highlights $60 billion wage gap, urges action on equal pay
Various research typically points to the state of Texas as one of the largest economies in the United States; however, new data from the Texas Women's Foundation amplifies a systematic gender pay gap that could have widespread economic implications across the state.
The foundation's new white paper, Texas Women and the Wage Gap: A Corporate Leader's Guide to Driving Workforce Sustainability, notes that the wage gap has increased since 2019 to $60.1 billion annually in lost earnings and lost economic productivity for the state.
Karen Hughes White, the President and CEO of the Texas Women's Foundation, said the data was released intentionally on March 25, often recognized as Equal Pay Day.
"The Equal Pay Act was passed in the 1970s, yet we are still discussing pay for equal work," she said. "The urgency around this now is that women comprise 46% of the Texas workforce and that's growing."
Read the full report
here
.
"Over a lifetime, the average Texas woman stands to lose $750,000 in lifetime earnings. That's game-changing for women," Hughes White said.
Hughes White said the designation for Equal Pay Day represents the amount of extra time women have to work in order to earn as much as men did in the previous year.
"The most shocking part of the data is how the age gap widens based on women's education. In Texas the more educated a woman is, the wider the wage gap is, [but] If we could just cut that wage gap the same as men with advanced degrees, it would actually cut the economic impact of the wage gap in half for equal work. We've been asking a long time."
Hughes White said for the average Texas woman, the ever-widening gap can impact her ability to achieve long-term economic security, stability and success for herself and her family.
According to Hughes White, that is not the only barrier for women to participate consistently and fully in the Texas economic landscape.
While the equal pay date is tied specifically to white women, Black and Hispanic women typically work much longer to achieve equal pay.
"The Texas economy which is [among] the largest and the strongest in the nation, is increasingly dependent on women to drive its success. The time is now for change and the time is now to act," she said.
Texas Women's Foundation offers statewide research on the issues impacting Texas women and girls and provides corporate, state and local decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs across the state.
Hughes White said one way the foundation works to raise awareness around the wage gap across North Texas is by offering practical tools for women to pursue pay equity.
"When people know the issues, we can solve the issues, it's going to take all of us to do it," she said.
The foundation will offer
salary negotiation workshops
on April 17 and May 15.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How LA erupted over rumours of immigration raid at a hardware store
Juan and several friends huddled in the car park of a hardware store near Los Angeles, where protests have erupted against US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Typically, their gatherings include dozens of day labourers, many of whom are undocumented immigrants, seeking work from shoppers or contractors. But on Sunday, only two small pickups advertised that they could help with roofing, repairs or paint jobs outside this branch of Home Depot in the suburb of Paramount, whose population is more than 82% Hispanic. It was one day after the store became the centre of immigration protests, sparked by rumours that day labourers here had been rounded up and arrested. Many who live in the community told the BBC they saw immigration enforcement vehicles in the area. It caused instant fear and panic. Then came reports about raids and arrests of day labourers at Home Depot, a place where many undocumented migrants across the US go to find work. Protests erupted in this Hispanic-majority city, turning violent as rocks and Molotov cocktails were thrown. Authorities used pepper spray, rubber bullets and smoke bombs to subdue the crowd. But the demonstrations in Paramount appear to have spawned out of misinformation. While dozens of migrants have been detained by authorities elsewhere in the area, the rumours of raids at the store were misinformation, according to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). "Despite false reports, there was no ICE 'raid' at a Home Depot in LA," the DHS told the BBC. Follow our live updates on the LA protests A political fight Trump is eager to have As he leaned on the bed of a small Toyota pickup with his two friends, Juan said: "No-one really knows what happened. Everyone is afraid." The unrest in Paramount, which also saw a car set ablaze and businesses looted, became a catalyst for what federal authorities have described as riots throughout the Los Angeles area. On Saturday, President Donald Trump used his authority to call in the California National Guard, something typically decided by a state's governor, as a second day of protests convulsed the city. As the protests flared up for a third day on Sunday, armed National Guard troops guarded a gated business park across the street from the hardware store. They parked Humvees blocking the area and squared off with protesters hurling insults and waving Mexican flags and banners. "You're not welcome here!" one man with a Los Angeles Angels ball cap shouted to the soldiers as another protester uncapped spray paint and wrote an obscenity directed at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. DHS told the BBC that the guarded area is home to one of their offices and authorities were using it "as a staging area and rioters found it". The agency told the BBC they have arrested 118 illegal immigrants in the Los Angeles area this week, including five they say are gang members. The agency said some of these migrants had previous criminal histories that included drug trafficking, assault and robbery. When can a president deploy National Guard on US soil? As he prepared to board Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, on Sunday, Trump told reporters there were "violent people" in Los Angeles "and they're not gonna get away with it". Dora Sanchez was still in disbelief from the shocking images that transformed her city the night before. She gathered on Sunday with others in the community at the Chapel of Change church, less than a block from the centre of protests the day before. She and others at the church talked about how this Hispanic community was revitalised over the years and became a close-knit community where neighbours know and watch out for one another. The protests felt like a "breaking point" for the immigrant community, she noted. Los Angeles is one of the biggest minority-majority cities in the US. Hispanics not only make up a larger share of the population than any other ethnic background, but immigrants, specifically those from just south in Mexico, are a core part of the history and culture here. The city boasts its status as a sanctuary city, which means it does not co-operate with federal immigration enforcement. Some here said they felt a bubbling tension that seemed to erupt when the Republican president's administration targeted LA's undocumented immigrants. "It was time to stand up," said Maria Gutierrez, who protested in Paramount. "These are my people." She said she was born in Mexico, but has lived here since she was a girl. She - like many here - say they have family members who are in the US illegally. "This is LA," she said. "It touches us all. "Everyone has family or knows someone who doesn't have papers." When can a president deploy National Guard on US soil? Trump orders National Guard to LA after clashes Trump's intervention in LA is a political fight he is eager to have
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
The history of National Guard deployments in LA: What to know
The history of National Guard deployments in LA: What to know The National Guard has been deployed to Los Angeles in the past in response to civil disorder and natural disasters. Show Caption Hide Caption Trump orders troops to LA as agents, protesters clash over immigration President Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to combat violent protesters opposed to immigration enforcement. The National Guard has been deployed to Los Angeles several times in response to civil disorder and natural disasters. In previous years, the National Guard was sent at the request of state and local officials. In January, California Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a request from Los Angeles County to deploy the state National Guard to support law enforcement during the wildfires. Thousands of Guard members were sent to the region to assist in firefighting efforts and to help local law enforcement with checkpoints and patrols in the evacuation areas. While Vice President J.D. Vance has referred to the protesters as "insurrectionists" and senior White House aide Stephen Miller described the protests as a "violent insurrection," President Donald Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act. Under the 1807 law, the president may have the legal authority to dispatch the military or federalize the Guard in states that cannot control insurrections under or are defying federal law. In June 2020, USA TODAY reported that Trump had considered invoking the Insurrection Act over protests in response to the murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a former Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck on a street corner in May 2020. Protestors clashed with police across the country, including in Los Angeles, which prompted then-Mayor Eric Garcetti to ask Newsom for members of the Guard to be sent to the city. At the time, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and others urged against deploying domestic troops to quell civil unrest. In 1994, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake ‒ known as the Northridge earthquake – shook the San Fernando Valley, which is about 20 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The earthquake caused an estimated $20 billion in residential damages, according to the California Earthquake Authority. The Guard was sent as part of the disaster assistance operation. The last time the Insurrection Act was invoked was in 1992 by former President George H.W. Bush, when the acquittal of the Los Angeles Police Department officers who beat Rodney King sparked civil unrest in Los Angeles, which left more than 60 people dead and 2,300 injured, according to the Bill of Rights Institute. Thousands of members of the Guard, the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps were deployed in the city. In 1965, nearly 14,000 Guard troops were sent to Los Angeles amid the Watts riots at the request of the California lieutenant governor, according to Stanford University's Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute. Contributing: Reuters
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hispanic Heritage Council receives $7M for construction of cultural institute
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York will receive $7 million from New York State to complete the construction of its cultural institute on Buffalo's West Side, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday. The council's plans for the multi-use 37,000-square-foot facility on the corner of Niagara and Hudson Streets was first announced in 2019, but it has since faced delays due to COVID-19. Hochul described the investment as a 'gap-filling' initiative for phase two of the institute, which will serve as a hub for Hispanic history, arts and community. The $30 million facility broke ground in September 2023 at the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. The council plans for the institute to house a museum, 150-seat performing arts theater, event spaces, cafe, media center and learning labs. 'We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her unwavering support of the Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute. This historic investment is not just a milestone for the Buffalo Hispanic community — it's a gift to all of Western New York,' said Casimiro Rodriguez, the council's president and founder. 'As the first of its kind, this institute will serve as a vibrant hub for arts, culture, education, and heritage, drawing visitors from near and far, including our Canadian neighbors. It will enrich our region's cultural landscape and strengthen our identity as a welcoming and diverse community. The future is bright, and we are filled with hope and gratitude as we take this giant step forward together.' Hochul said the previous announcement in 2023 of a $5 million grant, along with additional funding, will continue to help with the completion of the project's second phase and grand opening. 'New Yorkers of Puerto Rican heritage have been an integral part of our state's cultural fabric for generations,' Hochul said. 'We are honored to make bold investments that will empower organizations to expand and thrive, ensuring that the vibrant presence of Puerto Rican culture in New York State remains a cherished aspect of our state's identity.' The council also received $1 million in federal funding in August 2023 for construction. Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
