Utah's Gender Wage Gap


By Gwen Kervin, Regional Economist


When analyzing the profile of women in the workforce, economists often point to a wage gap between men and women. Such a gap is calculated by dividing the median female wage by the median male wage. The median is considered a better measure of the central tendency than averages, which can skew on the high or low end. 

There are several datasets which can be selected for comparison, but this analysis will utilize the Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. It shows that nationally, adult women who work full-time earn approximately 81% of what their male counterparts earn. Looking at Utah, the ratio drops to 72%. Note that seasonal and part-time workers are excluded from these estimates as they introduce variability between the gender measures. Only full-time employment is used as it produces the identical standard needed for the uniform measure.   More...




Expanding Apprenticeship Opportunities in Utah


To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Apprenticeship Utah and the Department of Workforce Services hosted the first annual Apprenticeship Utah Summit on November 15, 2022 at the Weber State University Davis campus in Layton. More than 100 employers in 10 different industries gathered in-person to learn about the benefits of adding or expanding apprenticeships within  their organizations. An additional 27 people attended virtually. Attendees had the opportunity to network with other organizations to share what they've learned from implementing apprenticeships. More...