Utah Women in the Economy Commission: Brown Bag Seminar

The Utah Women & Leadership Project, Center for the Study of Ethics, Woodbury School of Business, and Women’s Success Center at Utah Valley University are pleased to welcome Utah House of Representative Speaker Lockhart and Minority Leader Seelig to UVU to discuss the newly created “Women in the Economy Commission.”

Earlier this year, the State Legislature created the 11-member panel to increase public awareness of women’s impact on the state’s economy. The legislation, HB90, also charged the Commission with coordinating public agencies and private groups that provide services to women, as well as conducting research on issues related to women in the economy (Salt Lake Tribune, 2014).

Why is it needed? A recent study by the National Women’s Law Center found that Utah women were twice as likely as men to work low-wage jobs. According to the report, women make up 44.4 percent of the Utah workforce, but hold 65 percent of its low-wage jobs. Another study by the Institute of Women’s Policy Research, a non-partisan Washington, D.C.-based organization, found that Utah has a significant gender gap when it comes to income. In 2012, the median income for women working full time was $33,100 compared to $48,000 for men, according to the study. These are only a few of the statics that were considered in creating the Commission.

Commission co-chairs Lockhart and Seelig will briefly discuss the Commission’s purpose and goals. The majority of the time will be Q&A. Come and join us! Please RSVP.