By Kara Oosterhuis

Alberta gets “D” grade for equality between men and women’s pay in the workpalce

Apr 12, 2017 | 2:45 PM

Gender wage gap is an issue that is often overlooked, because of how far Canadian society has advanced when it comes to equality.

A recent report by the Conference Board of Canada gives Alberta a “D” grade when it comes to the equality between men and women in the workplace, specifically in higher paid jobs.

A study of people who graduated from seven Canadian universities from 2005-2012 found that one year after graduating with a bachelor’s degree, women were earning $2,800 dollars less than men.

Eight years later, that number went up to $27,300.

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

Anthropolgist Sandra Moore says that in order to help change that wage gap, women need to have the courage to head into non gender traditional work roles.

“I would highly recommend young women coming into the work force to look at non traditional, non gender roles,” she says. “I’m specifically mentioning STEM careers – Sceince, Technology, Engineering, and Math – those are the ones where we see the highest wage disparity between the genders.”

Medicine Hat College business instructor Glen Allan says that how much value you bring to the job should indicate how you are assessed.

“What revenue do you bring to the table? Regardless of seniority, gender, or any of that, how much profit you bring to the job should show how your pay should be assessed,” he says.

Alberta currently sits at a 24.6 per cent difference of pay between men and women according to the Conference Board of Canada, however, progress has been made.

Our province has the third highest gender wage gap among all 26 regions in the report, with Newfoundland and Labrador being the only other provinces that rank lower.