Women in Texas © Courtesy of Texas Women’s Foundation
Texas boasts the nation’s strongest economy, with a staggering $2.4 trillion in economic output. Yet, behind this success lies a troubling reality: Texas ranks a dismal 47th out of 50 states across 25 different indicators of women’s economic security.
The recently released 2024 Economic Issues for Women in Texas Report by the Texas Women’s Foundation digs into the data around Texan women and families. It reveals alarming disparities that require urgent action. While women comprise 46 percent of the state’s workforce—driving its unprecedented growth—the systemic barriers they face are costing Texas billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and potential.
- Women in Texas earn just 83 percent compared to their male counterparts, resulting in a staggering $47 billion in lost earnings and productivity annually.
- 27 percent of Texas women work in jobs with a median annual income of less than $20,000, while only four percent work in jobs with a median annual income of over $75,000.
- At 17 percent, Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured women nationwide; one in four full-time working women is uninsured.
The cost of child care for an infant in Texas exceeds $9,300 per year, nearly equal to one year’s tuition at a state college. - The childcare crisis is costing the state $11.4 billion annually in lost economic output.
Despite women earning 58 percent of all college degrees in Texas, men with bachelor’s degrees make 41 percent more money; men with graduate degrees make 51 percent more.
The situation is even more dire for women of color, who represent 60 percent of Texas’s working women. They face greater wage gaps, higher uninsured rates, and significant barriers to housing stability.
The time to act is now! By 2040, Texas’s female population will grow to 18.5 million, multiplying the impact of these disparities if left unaddressed. Without addressing the health insurance gap, for example, “health losses” in Texas are projected to reach $178.5 billion annually by 2040.
What Can Be Done?
Since 1985, the Texas Women’s Foundation has invested nearly $85 million in Texas women and girls, but more support is urgently needed. Here’s how you can help:
1. Support policy reform to:
- Enhance workforce equity through equal pay and an increased minimum wage;
Support women’s educational advancement by addressing college affordability and student loan debt; - Advocate and invest in universal and subsidized childcare programs;
- Increase health care coverage for Texas families by expanding Medicaid access and streamlining enrollment;
- Expand affordable housing options across Texas;
2. Encourage business leaders to:
- Expand paid leave policies;
- Ensure equal representation in executive positions;
- Address funding disparities for women-owned businesses;
3. Get engaged:
- Raise awareness about these issues in your community and networks;
- Advocate for change with your local and state representatives;
- Support organizations working for Texas women and families;
The stakes are high. As Karen Hughes White, president and CEO of Texas Women’s Foundation, emphasized, “In order for the Texas economy to remain strong, we must address the barriers for Texas women and families by closing the wage gap, addressing the child care crisis, and increasing health care access, including reproductive care. These solutions require the collective effort of policymakers, business leaders, and community members. Every day of inaction equates to more women and families struggling, and billions in lost economic opportunity for Texas.”
Take action today by visiting txwf.org. Join our movement to build #StrongWomenBetterTexas and help unlock Texas’ full economic potential. Said White, “When Texas women thrive, Texas families thrive, and all Texans prosper.”
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Texas Women’s Foundation is Transforming Texas for women and girls by advancing their economic security and leadership through research, advocacy, grants and programs.