New Michigan data shows women still earn less than men, despite growing workforce share

Musical powerhouse Beyoncé may have a song about girls running the world, but Michigan women still lag behind when it comes to making money. Women now make up nearly half of Michigan’s labor force. But women working full-time, year-round, now earn about 79 cents for every dollar men earn.  In fact, that gap grew by 3 cents from 2023 to 2024.  Stephanie Backorn, the Deputy Director in the Office of Employment and Training, joined Local 4 Live to dig into some of the factors responsible for that difference.