Connecticut women who work full time earn an average of 22 percent to 24.2 percent less than their male counter parts — a larger gap than the 21.2 percent to 23 percent difference nationwide, according to a study released by Gov. Dannel Malloy’s office.
Four years after Congress passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — which brought many states in line with Connecticut in making it easier to file pay discrimination law suits — officials here say they want to persuade employers to do better.
The task force is recommending that the state organize a conference on pay equity; recognize businesses that pay female employees at parity; grade state contractors on pay equity; and encourage girls to pursue STEM education, colleges to teach salary negotiating as a part of their curricula and employers to self-audit and even disclose salary ranges to their workers.
Catherine Smith, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, said in a statement that women are playing a larger role than ever in their families’ economic security.
“Equal wages for women would be a huge economic stimulus and bring greater stability to thousands of households in Connecticut,” Smith said. “Connecticut has made progress to improve pay equity in recent years, but more must be done before the gender wage gap is eliminated.”
The largest wage gap in the state can be found in its finance and insurance industry, where women average just 61 percent of what men make, according to the nine-month study. Two industries — professional, scientific and technical services, and health care and social services — are tied for second at 42 percent.
Specific types of jobs with the largest gap include sales at nearly 62 percent, legal at nearly 55 percent and personal care and services at nearly 45 percent.
Hartford County had the narrowest gap in the state. Women here earn 72.6 percent of what their male counterparts earn. New London had the widest gap at 62.6 percent.
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