In this project, you will examine the data behind the rise of women in the labor force, and look at several aspects of the situation. In particular, you will determine whether there exists a pay gap between men and women in the workforce in the United States.
Women workers made up 46 percent of the U.S. labor force in 1994, according to the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor. Predictions are that the figure will increase to 48 percent by the year 2005. These numbers represent progress for U.S. women, but there remain disparities in compensation level. Some claim that the majority of women in the work force work in occupations which tend to pay less than male occupations and have fewer opportunities for advancement.
In this project, you will examine the difference in pay between women and men. The goal, as usual, is to first determine whether the question is worthy of further examination and then, how to answer it statistically.
It seems obvious that equal pay for equal work benefits every member of society. Indeed, some people are surprised to learn that there is a pay gap between the sexes in today's 'modern' world. Thus, the question definitely seems worth asking: is there actually a gap in pay between men and women who are doing comparable jobs? You will be able to answer that question for yourself in this project.