Everyone in Kansas City has a stake in women’s economic success - especially men | Opinion
At Kansas City’s United WE, we often say that “when women rise, everyone wins.” And it’s more than a slogan: The evidence and data bear this out.
As we mark International Women’s Day on March 8, the number of women participating in the labor force stands at record highs, but still lags — especially compared to men. The McKinsey Global Institute found that the Kansas and Missouri economies could grow by as much as 15% if women’s participation in the workforce increased. Research also shows that companies with women in leadership positions earn higher profits and see better financial performance.
It may be intuitive that families, businesses and whole communities benefit when women can move up the economic ladder. But it’s worth noting that men often have the most to gain from unlocking women’s earning potential. According to the International Monetary Fund, “results suggest that men’s wages will also increase as a result of greater inclusion of women in the labor force since productivity will increase.”
Far from being a zero-sum game, empowering women economically is a win-win-win.
That is why, through our United WE Institute, we are redoubling our efforts to invest in research and solutions that identify and break down the barriers that keep women participating in the labor force. Two issues in particular — child care and occupational licensing — illustrate the opportunity we have to make bipartisan progress toward unlocking all women’s economic potential in ways that benefit everyone.
When it comes to childcare, United WE research found that 41% of all counties in Missouri lack accredited child care facilities, and in Kansas the number of children under the age of 5 outnumber the amount of available child care slots by 2 to 1. When families can’t access child care, either because it’s too costly or because it’s simply not available, women are likely to drop out of the workforce, since they typically are paid less than men.
The good news is that right now, Missouri and Kansas are having one of the most active policy sessions we’ve seen on this issue. In Kansas, where work by Gov. Laura Kelly and policymakers has resulted in 7,400 new child care slots, there is an opportunity to build on this momentum by streamlining processes and consolidating existing early childhood programs into an Office of Early Childhood. In Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe and a bipartisan group of lawmakers are championing child care access.
United WE is also fueling progress on occupational licensing. As our research has shown, these regulations are often intended to protect public health and safety, but they have proliferated to the extent that they are now a barrier between women and the workplace. In both Missouri and Kansas, we’ve successfully worked to eliminate the overregulation of professions such as hair braiding, and make it easier for military spouses to take their certifications with them when they move.
There is far more work to be done, but the progress we’re making is a powerful reminder that data and research can help catalyze consensus and drive positive outcomes — for women, for men, and our entire economy.