Arizona Can’t Stay Silent as the Gender Wage Gap Widens — It’s Hurting Our Economy
By Veronica Aguilar
Founder at Young & Empowered Women (Y&E)
The latest Census Bureau report flew a bit under the radar — but the findings matter deeply for Arizona’s future.
For the second year in a row, the gender wage gap in the United States has widened. On average, women in 2024 earned just 80.9 cents for every dollar earned by men, down from 82.7 cents from the previous year. At the same time, Black workers’ median wages fell 3.3 percent, erasing years of hard-won progress.
These numbers aren’t just disappointing - they are economically dangerous. Arizona can’t afford to treat pay equity as a side issue. It’s a bottom-line imperative.
Pay Gaps Are an Economic Drag
The gender wage gap undermines the long-term financial sustainability of women. Lower lifetime earnings mean women have less to save for retirement, are more likely to carry debt, and face greater economic vulnerability in times of crisis. For single mothers, women of color, and caregivers - many of whom already face systematic barriers - the wage gap compounds financial stress and limits access to housing, healthcare and education.
This isn’t only a “women’s issue,” but it’s an economic one and Arizona’s businesses, families, and communities are paying the price.
Every dollar a woman doesn’t earn is a dollar not spent in local stores, restaurants, and neighborhoods. When women and people of color are underpaid, consumer demand shrinks, innovation suffers, and business growth slows.
Companies that allow unfair pay practices face higher turnover, weaker morale, and a damaged reputation among workers and consumers who increasingly demand transparency and fairness.
Put simply: pay fairness isn’t a social luxury — it’s a business necessity.
Arizona Needs to Lead
State 48 has already proven it can break barriers. In fact, it boasts a history of more female governors than any other state in the nation.
But leadership is about more than who holds office. It’s about policies and practices that champion opportunities. Despite our history of electing female leaders, in 2024, Arizona had the twelfth-largest gender pay gap among the 50 states.That’s an alarming statistic and a signal that we’re falling short of the inclusive future we aspire to.
To turn this around, we need to:
Require pay transparency and regular fair pay reviews for medium and large employers.
Pass statewide pay-fairness legislation that prohibits unjustified wage gaps and enforces accountability.
Encourage public procurement and incentives that reward companies with proven fair-pay practices.
Invest in community organizations advancing economic opportunity and leadership development.
Empowering Women to Close the Gap: Young & Empowered Women (Y&E)
While policy change is essential, grassroots efforts are already making a difference. One organization already tackling this issue is Young & Empowered Women (Y&E). Founded in 2020, Y&E works to empower women — especially women of color — with the tools and connections needed to close the wage gap and achieve lasting economic opportunity.
Their mission is clear: equip early-career women with the skills and support to thrive. Their vision is bold: an Arizona where every woman has an equal chance to earn, lead, and succeed.
Membership with Y&E provides access to professional-development programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities that help women negotiate fair pay, advance into leadership roles, and build long-term financial confidence. This formula for combatting the wage gap had already seen success, with 1 in 4 reporting a negotiation in salary and 90% a growth in their professional network.
When women are given real opportunity, businesses gain stronger talent pipelines, families gain stability, and our economy grows more resilient.Organizations like Y&E are proving that change is possible — and that Arizona has the talent and drive to lead the nation in closing the wage gap. To accelerate this progress, Y&E is running a statewide campaign to close the “Difference on the Dollar,” raising awareness and mobilizing support to shrink the wage gap. Community members can be part of the solution by donating to fuel this movement. Every contribution helps expand access to mentorship, leadership development, and fair-pay advocacy.
A Call for Equity
Arizona can no longer afford to ignore these numbers. Let’s demand fair pay. Let’s insist that businesses review their wage practices. Let’s back organizations like Y&E that are preparing the next generation of women leaders to drive a stronger, more inclusive economy.
Because when women rise, Arizona rises — stronger, fairer, and more prosperous for all.
