MSMU RSWG 2023 final - Flipbook - Page 16
Source: 2020, 2021
California Health
Interview Survey
FIGURE 3
IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON CALIFORNIA WOMEN’S WORK EXPERIENCE29
LOST A JOB
13%
13%
REDUCED WORK HOURS
23%
25%
WORKED FROM HOME
32%
33%
CLASSIFIED AS ESSENTIAL WORKER
24%
30%
EARNINGS
Despite the workplace disruptions between 2019 and 2021, working women have experienced
an increase in median earnings. The median earnings of women who worked full-time, all year,
in both 2019 and 2021 have increased by 14% to $57,373. Median earnings of those who worked
part-time increased by 9% to $15,417.30 (For a breakdown of women’s median earnings by
race/ethnicity, see our Snapshot on page 11.)
Of course, 2021 and 2022 brought inflation rates not seen in decades, threatening to undo
those earning increases. Research shows that “inflation is not gender neutral,” as women make
up 58% of minimum wage workers nationwide — workers who would be most affected by
spiking inflation rates.31
In California, the number of women and men working in front-line essential jobs is roughly
equal. However, women are greatly overrepresented in a number of low-wage occupations,
including as secretaries (91%), personal care aides (81%), office clerks (79%), cashiers (69%), and
janitors/cleaners (60%).32
POVERTY
Source: U.S. Census
Bureau, 2021 American
Community Survey
1-Year Estimates
In 2021, 13% of California’s
women and girls were living
on income below the Federal
Poverty Level, the same as in
2019.33 In 2021, 7% of women and
girls lived in extreme poverty on
income that was less than half
of the Federal Poverty Level,
compared to 6% in 2019.34
FIGURE 4
Of note, family households have
a poverty rate of 9%, but for
households headed by women
with no spouse present, that rate
more than doubles to 21%.35 That
poverty rate climbs even higher
for women-headed households
with children present.
16 THE REPORT ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN CALIFORNIA | 2023
POVERTY RATES OF CALIFORNIA FAMILIES
ALL FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS
HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN
UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE
ALL
FAMILIES
MARRIED
COUPLES
FEMALE
HOUSEHOLDER, NO
SPOUSE PRESENT
