Blog: 5 Facts About Black Women in the Labor Force
The Women’s Bureau released a new blog for Black Women’s Equal Pay Day highlighting Black women in the labor force and the inequities they continue to face. For example, Black women earn 63 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men, and this wage gap is not just driven by educational differences.
WB in the News
Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon was recently quoted in a Bloomberg article about the labor shortage and its possible causes: “If we continue to lack the kinds of care infrastructure that we desperately need to have robust participation in the workforce, then we shouldn’t be surprised if those numbers don’t increase at the level that they need to.”
The Women’s Bureau is Hiring – Join our team!
The Women’s Bureau is hiring a Policy Analyst. The announcement closes August 30.
Blog: Women’s Equality Day
Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon published a blog commemorating Women’s Equality Day (recognized on August 26)–the anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. Women’s equality requires more than the right to vote–pay inequity, occupational segregation, lack of a supportive care infrastructure, and undervalued work all prevent women from fully participating and thriving in our economy and workforce.
Webinar: Helping Women Take the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning
On September 2, 2:00-4:00 pm EDT DOL’s Employment Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will host a webinar on the additional challenges women face when planning for retirement. The Women’s Bureau and other agencies will join EBSA and will also address the impact of the pandemic on older women workers, making the most of your employer provided retirement plan, checking if your retirement savings are on track, Social Security and Medicare benefits, and how to avoid financial abuse, frauds and scams.
Secretary Walsh Joins Advocates from Across the Country to Talk about Care Economy Infrastructure and the Build Back Better Agenda
WB Director Wendy Chun-Hoon and Secretary Walsh joined Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) for a roundtable discussion about America’s need for bold federal investments in child, elder and disability care, as well as, a robust paid leave policy. Essential workers, many of whom were Service Employees International Union (SEIU) members, advocates and other workers shared their personal stories about why we need paid leave and a more investments in the care economy.
Secretary Walsh gave remarks at the Boston stop of the Paid Leave for All bus tour on the importance and necessity of a national, comprehensive paid leave program.
Blog: What the El Monte Sweatshop Case Means to Me
DOL Deputy Secretary Julie Su recently published a blog about her involvement in the El Monte sweatshop case–an important labor rights case in which 72 Thai workers were found captive in a garment sweatshop–on the anniversary of the federal raid in 1995. She discusses how impactful this case was for her personally and for leading to important labor reforms. As the Department’s newly appointed Deputy Secretary she wants to continue to fight for stronger worker protections
Data Update: Facts Over Time and Employment and Earnings
The Women’s Bureau released updated data visualizations on the most and least common occupations for women, gender earnings gaps, earnings ratios by sex and race and ethnicity, and more.
Check them out:
Census Bureau: Decline in Economic Hardship Following Child Tax Credit Payments
About 35 million eligible families are receiving monthly payments of the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) through December 2021. The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey (HPS) shows that food insecurity declined in households with children after the first payment on July 15. Difficulty in paying household expenses also declined following the the July CTC payment. Almost half of HPS respondents (47%) reported spending the CTC on food, and 10% on child care.
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The Women’s Bureau has championed the rights of working women and served as a convener of conversations critical to an equitable economy for women for more than 100 years.
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