Wyoming Wage Gap for Women Third Worst in Nation

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming trails Louisiana and Utah in having the widest gender-wage gap in the country.

Wage data released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau shows women in the state earned 69 cents for every dollar men were paid, about a dime less than the national average.

Some say Wyoming's historical disparity is due to the large natural resources job sector, while others say the state needs to enact equal pay policies.

This year's third-worst ranking is an improvement from 2013, when the state tied West Virginia in having the second-largest wage gap. Louisiana held first place that year too.

Lawmakers shot down a budget footnote earlier this year that would have required the state to compile private employers' best practices for addressing the gap.