New York City Just Took A Big Step Toward Reducing The Wage Gap

New York City, where women of color earn even less than their national counterparts, just approved a bill that will make it illegal for employers to ask women about their salaries at previous jobs.

The question has been illegal for government agencies to ask potential employees since November last year, but the bill that was passed by the city council on Wednesday afternoon will extend that law to all employers across the city, both public and private.

“Being underpaid once shouldn’t condemn you to a lifetime of inequality. The old ways of attacking the problem aren’t working. We’ve got to pursue new approaches—like attacking wage disparities at their subtle but pernicious roots,” wrote New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, who authored the bill, in an op-ed for the New York Daily News.

Asking already underpaid people of color and women for their salary histories perpetuates the wage gap by keeping people on different pay scales throughout their careers.

A report released by James’ office last year found that women in New York City earn $5.8 billion less than men each year. And the figures are staggering for women of color: Hispanic women earn 54% less than white men (compared to 46% nationally); black women earn 45% less (36% less nationally); and Asian women earn 37% less (14% less nationally).

The wage gap between men and women is 9% overall in the city, compared to the higher 21% gap nationally, which is likely reflective of high-paying jobs in the (male-dominated) finance industry.