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New research from the Canadian Labour Congress shows things are getting worse for women in Canada.

The paper, Women in the Workforce: Still A Long Way from Equality, was released today (March 7) as part of the Congress’ campaign for women’s econonmic equality, Equality Once and For All.

Some facts:

  • In 2005 women working full-time for the full year earned an average of $39,200, or 70.5% as much as comparable men. In the mid 1990s, that number was 72%.
  • Public services employ 29% of all women and 17% of men. Women have borne most of the impacts of privatization and contracting-out to the private sector, where wages are lower and wage gaps greater.
  • Unionized women earn 93% as much as unionized men, while non union
  • women earn just 75% as much as non union men.
  • In 2007, 31.4% of all women earned less than $12 per hour, compared to 20.9% of men.
  • In 2001, women had average annual earnings of $24,390, but visible minority women earned an average of $22,301. For women who had come to Canada in the previous five years that figure was $18,113.

The campaign site features factsheets, news about cross-country events, and urges visitors to contact their MP