The gender pay gap is worse for higher earners
Although women in Québec are graduating with more postsecondary accreditation than their male counterparts, they continue to be paid less.
This gap persists even when factors that contribute to labour market inequality, such as having children, are removed from the equation. Between men and women working full-time in similar positions, the gap is 9% one year after graduating. That gap widens to 16% after five years. Among the highest-earning graduates (top 10%), the gap is even more pronounced: 13% after graduation, which widens to an astonishing 19% after five years.
The glass ceiling: A career-long reality
Additionally, this report shows that the “glass ceiling” (namely, social obstacles that hinder women’s advancement) is not simply a mid-career phenomenon. The downward pressure of gender inequality “is something women have to contend with every step of the way,” warns Emna Braham, Deputy Director of the Institut du Québec.
The employer matters
The report also shows that women in Québec are less likely to work for organizations that pay well because their corporate practices are not amenable to women’s career development.
Whether or not women have children, societal expectations often require them to fulfill caregiver and housekeeping responsibilities outside of work. As such, our research shows that women in Québec also tend to seek out employers and industries where work-life balance is more of a priority.
