In a recent article for University Affairs, Derek Messacar (Memorial University) assesses women’s representation and compensation in full-time faculty positions at Canadian universities over the last 50 years. Drawing on Statistics Canada data, Messacar finds that women’s representation in the university sector has increased between 1970 and 2022. Despite these gains, the author points out that women remain underrepresented in STEM fields, are less likely to hold administrative responsibilities than men, and more likely than men to work in low-paying departments. Messacar also underlines that women still earn about $5K less than men in the same positions. The author concludes by suggesting that institutions can address these wage gaps by implementing pay equity adjustments and reducing pay disparities across departments.
