Poverty Among Utah Women: A 2022 Update

In 2016, the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) released a research snapshot entitled “Poverty Among Utah Women.” At the time, 46.9% of Utah female-headed households with related children under age 5 were living in poverty. Since then, the overall poverty rate in Utah has decreased 2.4%. However, over a third (36.4%) of that same demographic still live in poverty. Additionally, although Utahns experience lower rates of poverty than the national average (8.9% in Utah vs. 12.3% nationwide), more women continue to live in poverty than men (9.6% vs. 8.2%, respectively). Many factors influence poverty among Utah women; for example, the gender wage gap is one of the highest in the nation, and women are more likely to work minimum-wage and part-time jobs with no benefits. Additionally, Utah women within certain demographics (including racial groups) are even more likely to experience poverty. This research snapshot focuses on three key areas:  

1. An overview of poverty rates for women in Utah, broken down by various demographic factors;  
2. An analysis of some of the issues contributing to women’s poverty rates in Utah; and  
3. A discussion of current efforts being made in the state to improve the economic circumstances of women, with links to relevant resources. 

Poverty Rates: Demographics 

Overall, Utah women live in poverty at a lower rate than the national average (9.6% vs. 13.5%, respectively), and 2019 U.S. Census data ranks Utah’s poverty rate as second lowest in the nation. When broken down by specific demographic factors, poverty rates are notably worse for women within certain racial groups, particularly Blacks. In all racial groups except Asians and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, Utah women experience poverty at higher percentages than Utah men. Additional key factors that influence poverty rates include the designation of “head of household” with no spouse present, age, and location of residence. 

Factors Contributing to Poverty 

Utah men consistently earn more than women, and men tend to earn more than women who have achieved a higher level of education. Men with a high school diploma earn more than women with an associate degree, men with a bachelor’s degree earn more than women with a graduate degree, and men’s prospective post-graduation salaries are higher than women’s. One reason may be that women are more likely to pursue degrees that yield lower salaries; for example, women outnumber men in teaching majors, while men outnumber women in engineering, sciences, mathematics, and business. Thus, despite women’s progress in educational attainment, occupational segregation may play a role in persistent wage differences, given that many employed women in Utah are concentrated in lower-paying sectors. 

Childcare is another prominent factor affecting employed women in Utah—especially those working lower-wage jobs. Utah, like the rest of the nation, faces a shortage of high-quality, affordable childcare. In Utah, the typical annual cost of care for a 4-year-old child is higher than a year’s tuition at college ($7,646 vs. $6,557); thus, childcare costs hit lower-income women and families particularly hard, as they pay a higher percentage of their total income for childcare, and even more for infant care. 

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a new factor that may be exacerbating poverty disparity in Utah, given that many women experienced loss of employment from the economic shutdown or had to leave their job to care for children at home because of mandated remote-schooling or childcare closures. Principal reasons women left the workforce in 2020 include employer furloughs, layoffs, and closures (38%); caregiving responsibilities (18.5%); and COVID-19 health issues or concerns (15%).  

Efforts to Address Poverty in Utah 

In a 2011 effort to address educational attainment as a key factor impacting poverty in Utah, the state set a goal of 66% of adults having a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2020. While progress has been made in the last decade, 2019 data show that Utah is 10.2% short of the 66% goal, indicating the continued need for education focused policy changes at the state level. Beyond this focus on education, state policymakers are continuing to examine family responsibilities that may affect men and women differently. Recommended legislative efforts to address gender disparities include the need for support services—such as on-campus daycare and baby-friendly study rooms for students with children—and the creation and promotion of family-friendly workforce policies. 

Additionally, a large number of public and nonprofit agencies work together to combat poverty in Utah. Organizations support impoverished Utahns in a wide variety of areas, ranging from programs that address immediate needs for food, shelter, and clothing, to the provision of safe havens for people whose personal safety is at risk. 

Conclusion 

Poverty is linked to many interrelated facets of overall wellbeing, and Utahns recognize the need to reduce poverty rates among those who struggle on a day-to-day basis. State leaders can work together with community organizations to make measurable differences. Collaborative efforts from Utahns working from homes, schools, and businesses can also help to address gender disparities in poverty. Ultimately, decreasing poverty rates among Utah women will benefit families, positively impact children’s futures, and strengthen the influence of women in the state. 

To learn more about poverty among Utah women, read the full snapshot.