Minnesota Ranks High in Gender Equality, Especially in Earnings Gap

As the U.S. ranks 43rd globally for gender equality, Minnesota stands out domestically, ranking third for its earnings gap, according to a new report by personal finance website WalletHub. The rankings, part of WalletHub’s 2024 Best and Worst States for Women’s Equality, are based on 17 key metrics, including income disparity, educational attainment, and representation in state legislatures.

Analyst Chip Lupo noted that Minnesota’s political representation is balanced, with equal shares of men and women in the U.S. House of Representatives and two female U.S. Senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.

August 26th marks Women’s Equality Day, celebrating the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment. Despite Minnesota’s progress in closing the earnings gap, Lupo pointed out that challenges remain:

“All the top five—Hawaii, California, Minnesota, Maine, and New Mexico—have all made tremendous strides. It’s not completely a level playing field.”

In Minnesota, women’s median weekly earnings are approximately 9% lower than men’s, a significant improvement over the often-cited national statistic of “79 cents on the dollar.”