The Community Foundation of Utah

Facts about Women and Girls

Utah has by far the largest gap in the nation between male and female college-graduation rates – a full 6.0 percentage points. New Jersey is next highest gap at 2.7 percentage points. The national average is a mere 1.3 percentage points. (Utah Department of Workforce Services)
Utah had the fourth largest wage gap in the nation in 2008. On average, Utah women made 69 cents to every male dollar percent of annual male earnings. Nationally it is 78 cents. Full-time male workers make a median of $45,000 – women make $31,200. (Utah Department of Workforce Services)
Utah has one of the lowest rates of women owned businesses in the US. Salt Lake County ranked dead last among the 50 most-populous counties in the nation, for its percentage of women-owned businesses in 2007. (U.S. Census Bureau)
At the same time, a higher percentage of Utah women work outside the home than the national average, including a majority of mothers of Utah preschool children. And we all know how hard it is for women to find and afford safe child care and early education. (Utah Department of Workforce Services)
Utah women are more likely to marry, divorce and remarry than their national counterparts. These divorces often cause poverty. (Utah Department of Workforce Services)
More than 1 in 4 female-headed households in Utah lived in poverty in 2009. 1 in 8 Utah children live in poverty. (U.S. Census Bureau)
There is approximately one domestic violence-related homicide each month in Utah. One out of three adult homicides are domestic violence related. (Utah Department of Health)
More Utah women enter drug treatment for methamphetamine than alcohol, and female meth addicts outnumber males in public treatment programs (Utah State Division of Substance Abuse)