We’ve made remarkable strides in the workforce, but there's still much to accomplish. As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2020, let's explore some inspiring statistics reflecting our progress.

Women are catching up. From our 19th-century suffragette predecessors advocating for voting rights to today’s movements like the Women’s March, Lean In, and #MeToo, it’s clear the future is female.

However, despite the cheers for progress, substantial work remains, particularly regarding the wage gap. Women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, as reported by an Institute for Women’s Policy Research 2018 study. Closing this gap could provide over 13 extra months of childcare, nearly seven additional months for mortgage and utilities, or almost three years’ worth of student loan repayments.

Moreover, balancing work and motherhood doesn’t equate to “having it all.” Each child born reduces a woman’s lifetime earnings by an average of 4%. In the corporate world, women often encounter a “broken rung,” facing fewer chances for advancement compared to their male peers. Reports indicate that only 72 women are promoted for every 100 men who ascend to management positions.

Closing the Gender Gap

Despite the ongoing gender pay gap, the trend is shifting positively. For instance, the gap narrows in sectors with wage transparency, according to research by the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Here are some key statistics that highlight our journey towards gender equality. Prepare to feel motivated!

  • In Fall 2020, about 57% of female students are expected to pursue postsecondary education, totaling approximately 11.3 million women, compared to around 8.5 million men, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
  • In 2019, 11 states passed pay equity laws. Notably, Alabama mandated equal pay for employees of varying races and sexes performing the same work, while Colorado became the first state to require job postings to include salary ranges.
  • As of 2020, 127 women are serving in the United States Congress, which is 23.7% of its total membership; 26 women (26%) in the Senate and 101 women (23.2%) in the House.
  • In Texas, it's estimated that the state would lose over $1849.3 million if women took a day off from work, as highlighted by the 2017 A Day Without a Woman strike. A nationwide day off for all working women would cost the U.S. about $21 billion in GDP.
  • Currently, 44% of firms have three or more women in their executive teams, rising from 29% in 2015.
  • According to a recent CNBC/SurveyMonkey survey, 24% of women believe their organizations offer more opportunities for them than three years ago, while 12% feel there are fewer, and 35% perceive greater workforce diversity.
  • In 2017, 41% of mothers were the primary earners for their families, earning at least half of the household income, including both single mothers and those out-earning their partners.
  • A 2019 report from the American Society of News Editors indicates that women made up 41.7% of newsroom staff, an increase from 39.1% in 2016.
  • Women and men are leaving their companies at similar rates, with most intending to remain in the workforce. Less than 2% are planning to step back for family reasons. Women are also negotiating salaries and seeking promotions at rates comparable to men, as noted in a recent report.
  • As of June 2019, the Fortune 500 has seen a record number of female CEOs, with 33 leading companies for the first time.
  • Over 11.6 million businesses are owned by women, providing jobs for nearly 9 million people and generating $1.7 trillion in sales as of 2017.
  • Women now occupy over 20% of board seats across five of nine industrial sectors, a significant increase from two sectors in 2018. The percentage of women-held board positions is rising in all sectors.
  • Female students continue to outnumber males in journalism programs at colleges and universities, despite an overall decline in enrollment, according to a survey by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
  • Over 130 nations have enacted legal reforms supporting gender equality and tackling discrimination, with more than three-quarters having laws against domestic violence.