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Pay gap remains in state jobs
Report says black employees have made some gains; women still earn less than men
By AARON GOULD SHEININ
Staff Writer
Black state employees have made gains in closing the salary gap with whites at upper levels of state government. But a new study says women continue to be paid significantly less than their male counterparts.
The annual report by the S.C. Human Affairs Commission, released last week, shows black state executives made 7.6 percent less than white executives, who were paid an average of $68,107 in 2005.
That gap has narrowed since 2000, when the average white executive made 16.9 percent more than blacks.
But the gap for females has widened since 2000, when men were paid 11.06 percent more than women in the same job classification. In 2005, that gap was 11.3 percent.
“Based on this data, minorities and females appear to have made some gains in the upper levels of state government,” Human Affairs Commissioner Jesse Washington wrote in the report. “However, there still is evidence of a ‘glass ceiling’ for both minorities and females.”
Efforts to reach Washington on Friday were unsuccessful.
State Rep. Joe Neal, D-Richland, said “glass” is the wrong word.
“This tells us that opportunity still is not equally available to all of our citizens, particularly those of color,” Neal said. “It says there is a concrete ceiling for African-Americans in state employment.”
There also continues to be evidence of a “sticky floor,” meaning women and minorities continue to outnumber white men in the state’s lower-paying jobs.
According to the report, white men outnumber black men in every salary level above $23,000. White women outnumber black women beginning at $27,000.
The report also found:
• Of 87 agency heads, 66 were white males in 2005, compared to 64 in 2002.
• There were four black men leading agencies last year, compared to three in 2002.
• 14 white females led agencies in 2005, compared to 17 in 2002.
• Three black females were agency heads in 2005, up from two in 2002.
• Among public colleges and universities, there were 39 black males among the 1,492 full professors, or 2.6 percent. There were 18 black females, or 1.2 percent, and 277 white females, or 18.6 percent.
• The Department of Commerce and the Housing, Finance & Development Authority were the only state agencies to meet 100 percent of their goals for hiring minorities and women.
• The Forestry Commission met 63.2 percent of its goals, worst among state agencies.
• The Citadel, at 63.4 percent, met the fewest of its goals among higher education. Greenville Technical College met 97.3 percent of its hiring goals, best among colleges and universities.
Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658 or asheinin@thestate.com
