Although the wage gap has narrowed over the years, in 1997, working women still earned only 74 percent of men's weekly earnings on average. The average woman would have to work from January 1 of 1997 to April 3 of 1998 to earn what the average man earned in 1997 alone. For women of color, the gap is even greater compared to white men. Businesses have a great stake in equal pay issues as well. The wage gap and the glass ceiling reflect the under evaluation of an important sector of the workforce.
Global competitiveness places greater demands on business.
These means that as a nation, we must band together to ensure recruitment and retention of the best talent available. In our competitive economy, we do not have a person to spare. President Clinton is calling on all Americans to recognize and reward the full value of the skills and contributions of women and people of color. Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman has responded to the President's call to action by expanding the Fair Pay Clearinghouse in the Women's Bureau and making additional resources available that highlight model pay practices and help employers ensure equal pay. Employers vary greatly by industry, gross sales and number of employees, yet very few are exempt from the laws that require equal pay and equal employment opportunity.