VermontBiz Vermont Works for Women (VWW) in partnership with the Vermont Women’s Fund and the Vermont Commission on Women are thrilled to launch the Women, Work, and Wages Spotlight Report - a powerful tool for understanding the economic realities facing women across our state.
Developed in collaboration with researchers and community leaders statewide, the spotlight report offers essential, Vermont-specific data provided by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research’s State Policy Action Lab (State PAL). The report underscores the indispensable role women play in driving Vermont’s economy and the strengthening our communities.
The Women, Work, and Wages Spotlight report highlights the Vermont gender wage gap – in 2023, Vermont women working fulltime earned just 86 cents for every dollar earned by men, resulting in women earning on average $9,000 less than man annually. Additional data points to the gender wage gap at different levels of educational attainment, the inequal economic impact of child rearing on women, and the cumulative impact of inequity on women’s retirement savings.
“VWW has been working for decades to support women to build their confidence, skills, and career potential,” says Rhoni Basden, Executive Director of Vermont Works for Women. “These reports will provide essential data to continue to drive conversation and advocacy for women’s economic security across Vermont. Reliable, localized data is critical—not only to highlight disparities but to inform strategic investments, shape policy, and guide community efforts that ensure all Vermonters have equitable access to opportunity.”
Emily Bush, Director of the Vermont Women’s Fund, shares, “This report is the product of thoughtful collaboration to bring together our organizations to leverage policy, program and philanthropy to shine a light on the essential role women play in helping drive Vermont’s economy. Behind every data point in this report is a real woman working hard to support her family, advance in her career, and build a life in Vermont. These numbers help us understand where the system is falling short and where our collective efforts can create meaningful change.”
On December 3, 2025, from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M., Vermont Works for Women is hosting a virtual preview of the data report with partners and supporters. To join the event, please reach out to Kate Gluckman, Director of Development & Communications at [email protected] for the registration link.
In the spring, partners will host events throughout the state highlighting specific aspects of the report. A more comprehensive and expansive Women, Work, and Wages Report will launch in Summer 2026.
Vermont Works for Women (VWW) promotes economic justice by advancing gender equity and supporting women and youth at every stage of their career journeys. Its programs include: career education and exploration for middle and high school girls and gender-expansive youth; employment and career coaching and hard skills training for women+, including those who are incarcerated; and workshops and consultation services for schools and businesses to improve educational and workplace cultures. Learn more at www.vtworksforwomen.org.
The Vermont Women’s Fund (VWF) works to improve the lives of young women and girls in Vermont by targeting philanthropic giving, forging statewide strategic partnerships, funding research, and supporting programs that address their fundamental economic, educational, and social needs. Learn more at www.vermontwomensfund.org
Vermont Commission on Women (VCW) is an independent non-partisan state government commission working to advance rights and opportunities for cisgender and transgender women and girls and gender expansive people in Vermont since 1964. Learn more at www.women.vermont.gov.
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