Survey Finds 30 States Beat California On Gender Equality

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - California's blue skies continue to hide a rigid glass ceiling, according to a Walled Hub study ranking the gender equity in all 50 states.

The Golden State boasts two veteran female senators, scores of tech entrepreneurs and some of the most recognizable female CEOs in the country. Despite that, according to WalletHub, there are 30 other states offering a more level playing field for women.

"To find the most gender-egalitarian states, WalletHub compared the 50 U.S. states across 11 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the gap between female and male executives to the disparity between women's and men's unemployment rate," WalletHub Communications Manager Diana Popa wrote in a press release.

The eleven metrics - which also included average work hours, number of minimum wage workers by gender, percentage of adult population with a degree, and number of female lawmakers - were boiled down into three key measurements: workplace environment, education and political empowerment.

California raked 10th in workplace environment and sixth in political empowerment, but ranked 47th on education, which was based on only two factors: percentage of residents aged 25 & older with a bachelor's degree or higher and resident math test scores. Several states tied for first on this metric, including Mississippi, Arkansas, Hawaii and Illinois.

Hawaii was the top state for equality, rating 1st in education and workplace opportunity while finishing 3rd in political power. Utah rated 36 or lower on each metric, making it the least equitable state.

"Women's rights in the U.S. have made leaps and bounds since the passage of the 19th Amendment. Yet many women still struggle to crack the proverbial glass ceiling," WalletHub author Richie Bernardo.

Researchers identified several noteworthy statistics from their findings, including the following:

• In every state, women earn less than men.
• In every state, male executives outnumber female executives.
• Men have longer average workdays than women.
• In nearly every state, women represent the highest percentage of minimum-wage workers.

Read the full methodology and get the complete ranking on WalletHub.

Bill Disbrow is the Managing Editor for cbsSF.com. Email Bill.