15th annual study highlights gains in entrepreneurship and persistent gaps in pay, leadership and access across the state’s evolving economy

Mount Saint Mary’s University, the only women’s university in Los Angeles, released the 15th annual Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California™ during a sold-out public event at the Skirball Cultural Center today.

The report is produced annually by the Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary’s, a leading hub for research, advocacy and leadership development focused on issues impacting women and girls in California. This year’s report, “The Future of Work for Women: Representation, Innovation and Access,” offers a data-driven look at California’s post-pandemic workforce and the industries shaping the state’s economic future. The findings highlight areas where women are driving growth and innovation, while identifying persistent barriers and disparities across industries and leadership spaces that limit professional advancement and investment. Key findings are included below; the full report is available online here.

“As we mark 15 years of insights into the lives of California’s women and girls, this year’s report arrives at a critical inflection point,” said Ann McElaney-Johnson, PhD, president of Mount Saint Mary’s University. “Technology and AI are redefining the workforce as we know it today. And while California stands at the forefront of innovation and economic growth, the data reminds us that even with some areas of significant progress for women, persistent gaps remain — particularly in equal pay, leadership representation, and access to high-growth industries. We need to use this data to build a future workforce that is more inclusive, more equitable, and filled with opportunity for generations to come.”

The release event convenes policymakers, business leaders, advocates and community members for dynamic discussions on the technological, economic and cultural changes reshaping work and opportunities for women across the state. To view the full program and list of speakers, visit here.

“The definition of work and the workplace is changing rapidly,” said Breann Branch, PhD, director of the Center for the Advancement of Women. “It is critical to recognize and address the persistent barriers that still sideline women in our state. Our goal is to turn research into action, ensuring that the report’s findings serve as a catalyst for change that move the needle for women and girls across the state.”

Key findings include:

• California’s women-owned firms outpace the nation: Women-owned businesses represent 39% of all privately held companies in the state (approximately 1.8 million firms), employing roughly 1.7 million people and generating nearly $362 billion in annual revenue.
• Startup funding for women is a key (and wise) investment: Nationally, women-owned businesses receive just 2% of all venture capital funding. Yet, their growth rate outpaces that of men-owned businesses (17% compared to 12%), along with employment growth rate (20% vs. 7%), and higher annual revenue growth (54% vs. 48%).
• Women remain underrepresented in high-growth STEM sectors: Women account for only about one in four full-time workers in computer- and math-related occupations, and just one in six engineering jobs. Men hold 74% of California’s tech jobs. As artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies redefine the global economy, the gender gap in STEM represents a critical risk to inclusive economic growth.
• Changing demographics: Over half of California’s girls and young women under 25 are Latina, whereas half of women 65 and older are White. Further, Latinas make up 39% of employed women in California, making them the fastest-growing segment of both the population and the female workforce.
• Continued gaps in gender earnings: Full-time working women in California earn about 88 cents for every dollar earned by men, an improvement from about 84 cents in 2010. However, women still earn only around 63 cents to each dollar earned by White men, a gap that has not improved since 2010.
• More women needed in the C-Suite: Women represent nearly half of entry-level workers (48%) in corporate settings but fewer than one in three executives in the C-Suite (roughly 29% in 2024). Moreover, the majority of women who do reach top management are White, highlighting a ‘glass ceiling’ that is even harder to break for women of color in leadership positions.
• Remote work setbacks: More women work from home than men: 36% compared to 29% nationally. However, this flexibility may be a setback. A recent survey found that fully remote workers are promoted 31% less often than their in-office peers and 90% of CEOs were more likely to prioritize in-office employees for career advancement, opportunities, raises and promotions.
• The motherhood penalty: Three-fourths of California’s women 20-64 years of age were in the labor force in 2024, and 30% of those women were mothers with children under 18 years of age. Nationally, the median earnings of full-time working mothers is 74% that of fathers, a larger gap than the overall gender pay difference.
• People of color drive the workforce: A majority of California’s working women (and men) are non-White (72% of young workers, ages 16-24, and 63% of older workers, ages 25-64), forming the backbone of the labor force in the state; this trend underscores the importance of racial and ethnic diversity in the state’s economy.

Read the full report online. To schedule an interview please contact Eva Diaz at emdiaz@msmu.edu.

ABOUT MOUNT SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY

Mount Saint Mary’s is the only women’s university in Los Angeles and one of the most diverse in the nation. The University is known nationally for its research on gender equality, its innovative health and science programs, and its commitment to community service. As a leading liberal arts institution, Mount Saint Mary’s provides year-round, flexible, and online programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. Weekend, evening, and graduate programs are offered to both women and men. Mount alums are engaged, active global citizens who use their knowledge and skills to better themselves, their communities and the world. Learn more at www.msmu.edu.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN

The Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary’s University is a hub for gender equity research, advocacy, and leadership development. Our vision is to find solutions to persistent gender inequities and work with partners to eradicate them in our lifetime. The Center produces original research, contributes to the national conversation on gender equity, and promotes solutions to reach gender parity. Learn more at www.msmu.edu/caw.

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