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Gender Pay Gap Shrinks to Record Low by 2025

10/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

By early 2025, the gap between male and female workers narrowed to 10.1 percentage points, the smallest difference on record.
Since 1948, women's employment in the United States rose from 32% to 60% by the late 1990s.
During the 2000s and 2010s, male employment declined while the gender gap continued to shrink.
The COVID-19 pandemic initially affected all workers, but women's participation rebounded more quickly, contributing to the smaller gap.

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Story summary

By early 2025, the gap between male and female workers narrowed to 10.1 percentage points, the smallest difference on record.
Since 1948, women's employment in the United States rose from 32% to 60% by the late 1990s.
During the 2000s and 2010s, male employment declined while the gender gap continued to shrink.
The COVID-19 pandemic initially affected all workers, but women's participation rebounded more quickly, contributing to the smaller gap.