Economic Justice

What the Data Shows

Together, these challenges often mean housing insecurity, debt, and poverty.

Wage Gap Reduces Women’s Lifetime Earnings

Investing in women’s economic security means addressing the persistent gender wage gap. Our 2022 Status of Women & Girls in Minnesota research shows that the wage gap continues to shortchange all women and affects Latina, Black, and Native American women the most. That’s why we center communities in building strong pathways to economic prosperity

On average, Minnesota women make $0.81 for every dollar that men make, with significant differences among women depending on race or ethnicity. Closing the pay gap for Latina, Black, Somali, Hmong, and Native American women who make the least is our finish line.

Average wage salary income for women relative to white men:

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Workers in Service Jobs Have Fewer Benefits

Women remain disproportionately represented in lower-paid service occupations with limited to no benefits, and hold fewer jobs in the higher-paid STEM and construction trades.

More Greater Minnesota women than Twin Cities metro women work minimum wage jobs. In 2022, 58% of minimum wage workers in Greater Minnesota and 54% of minimum wage workers in the Twin Cities metro area were women.

CWGPP analysis of Quarterly Employment Demographics data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Data from Q1-Q4 2022. Since the passage of higher minimum wage laws in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota now has four categories of minimum wage workers.

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High-quality child care is out of reach for many Minnesota families, especially those headed by women.

Child care affordability and access present continued barriers for working women. Most Minnesota families spend far more on child care than the 7% of income recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The average cost of center-based infant care in Minnesota is more than the annual cost of college tuition at the University of Minnesota.

Program Related Investments

The Women’s Foundation invests additional capital into communities through PRIs to maximize our endowment for greater community impact that benefits women, girls, and women entrepreneurs. WFM’s $1 million investment in PRIs has recycled over $10 million into statewide communities.