Women and the Economy

woman in lab

Economic Opportunity

The Michigan economy is in critical condition. Although many state leaders understand the importance of increasing educational attainment among Michigan residents, particularly in science and technical fields, there has been virtually no discussion of women’s role in emerging economic development strategies. In Michigan in 2005, women earned 40% of bachelor's degrees in physical sciences, 22.5% in engineering, and just 14.5% in computer and information sciences--far behind the dismal national rate of 21% in that field. At a time when Baby Boomers are getting ready to retire, with the potential loss of half our scientists and engineers, women's low rates of participation in the physical sciences, engineering, and computer technology are going to be an impediment to economic redevelopment, unless the barriers keeping women's representation low are addressed. Those barriers include low self-confidence, self-concept and cultural fit, stereotyping, teaching methods, discrimination and other institutional barriers, and difficulty combining work and family. Ability is not the problem. There are actions that the state and federal governments, local school boards, colleges and universities, and Michigan families can take to increase girls' and women's participation in high-tech fields, in order to provide the highly trained, diverse and innovative workforce Michigan employers need. Read Michigan Women and the High-Tech Knowledge Economy.

While women in the U.S. who work full-time year-round earn 77% of men’s wages, Michigan women earn only 67%, causing the state to be ranked 46th for wage parity. Michigan legislators have introduced bills that would increase pay equity. Click here to take action now.

After their recent victory in raising the minimum wage, national organizations are coming together to increase workers’ access to paid sick leave. Another effort would create a Work and Family Bill of Rights. Click here to take action now.