Report: Orange County wage gap wider than state average, especially for women of color

The gender wage gap in Orange County is wider than that of the state average — particularly for women of color, according to a recent report by the N.C. Justice Center.

At the state level, women overall earn 86 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make, the report said. While Asian-American women make 78 cents on the dollar, African-American and Native American women make 64 and 58 cents on the dollar, respectively. The contrast is most significant for Latina women, who make 48 cents for every dollar. 

In Orange County, white women make 80 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make, while black women make 52 cents and Latina women make 37 cents. 

Marion Johnson, the author of the study, said she is not surprised that the gap is higher in Orange County. 

“The variance was just so sharp, and I would say that was the only surprising thing because honestly you’ve been seeing this reality reflected in so many different ways,” she said.

Orange County's small size could be a factor causing the gap, said Gloria Thomas, director of the Carolina Women's Center. 

“When you can have a diversified work force, then you're more likely to have a higher rate of salaries and earning," she said. "We're not exactly living in the Research Triangle. If you look at some of the other counties that are neighboring, they have higher salaries."

Thomas said low pay for black and Latina women brings down the overall average for women — especially in Orange County. 

"It's abysmal," she said. "I mean significantly different. It's significantly lower."

The wage gap is closing, but very slowly, Thomas said. 

“At the rate that we’re going in North Carolina the gap won't close until 2064, and that's just shy of 50 years from now,” she said.

Johnson said raising the minimum wage could contribute to solving the gender gap issue.

“You see women, especially women of color, working minimum wage jobs for the most part,” she said.

Providing additional workers' rights could be an indirect way to solve the issue, Johnson said. 

“Providing paid family leaves, paid sick days and fighting for protection for nursing and pregnant workers would be another way to just sort of make the workplace a much more welcoming place for women,” she said.

Thomas said an improved education could increase women's income.

“You want to advance or provide as much access to women education and training for those who may not go into four-year college or a master's degree,” she said.

This is not just an issue for North Carolina, she said. 

“This is a national problem, and it needs to be addressed," she said. "We need to place more attention on it." 

state@dailytarheel.com