Earnings are a significant factor in determining economic well-being in Canada, which makes pay equity crucial. For every dollar males earn, full-time and part-time working women earn 89 cents. If current trends continue, it will take 267.6 years for the world to close the gender economic disparity. People looking to get ahead in their jobs must often work long hours, but the gendered allocation of family responsibilities prevents women from being able to do this. As a result, jobs requiring employees to work long hours produce some of the largest wage gaps.

To achieve inclusive and cohesive societies and sustain economies, the wage gap between men and women must be closed. Women's skills and efforts should both be valued and utilized equally. By reducing the gender wage gap, the economy will develop and other important societal factors like income inequality and poverty would improve. Equal compensation for equal effort must stop being an ideal and start being a reality.

Every six months, we must conduct pay audits to check on employee pay and make sure it is equitable. To prevent bias, the hiring process also has to involve a more diverse group of interviewers. Finally, as women are more likely to stay at home with children, which widens the income difference, there needs to be more reasonably priced childcare. More women would be able to work if child care was more reasonably priced. We can create a thriving economy that will benefit everyone if we work hard to close the gap.

The change starts now.