New analysis by the Center for American Progress (CAP) shows the significant ways that women’s experiences in the labor market over their life course differ from men’s. The report, “Promoting Economic Advancement for Older Women in the Workplace,” shows that women often find their mid- and late-career prospects hindered by long-standing inequities, including occupational segregation; discrimination based on gender, age, race, and disability; lack of access to training, upskilling, or re-skilling; and caregiving responsibilities.

The CAP report reveals earnings for full-time women workers tend to peak at earlier ages and stagnate or decline more rapidly with age compared with those for men. The stagnation or decline in earnings that many women experience at mid-career and beyond undercuts their economic well-being at older ages because the damage it does to financial security is cumulative over time.

The report also dives more deeply into gender-based occupational segregation, age discrimination and the role of caregiving. CAP concludes with summarizing recommendations, stating, “Strengthening protections against age discrimination, modernizing workforce training to meet the needs of older women, and raising the minimum wage are pressing issues for women and the U.S. economy today and tomorrow.”

The report follows issues outlined in other reports, including from UMass-Boston.