Nevada Women’s Fund Publishes Landmark Report to Chart the Status and Achievement of Women in Nevada
For more than forty years, Nevada Women’s Fund has observed a simple truth: When Women Rise, Nevada Rises—economically, systemically, and measurably. Women who lead, innovate, and succeed expand opportunities for everyone, strengthening families, communities, and the state’s economy.
Recognizing the power of this impact, Nevada Women’s Fund has taken a critical step forward to better understand where Nevada stands today, with the release of The Status and Achievement of Women in Nevada report, conducted by the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities—the first comprehensive statewide study of its kind in more than two decades.
As Ila Friedenthal, President & CEO of Nevada Women’s Fund, explains, the motivation behind the work is straightforward:
“How can we move the needle on progress when we don’t know where the needle is?”
The report provides a high-level overview of eight critical areas that shape the opportunities, potential, and well-being of women across Nevada including: economic participation and pay equity, housing and economic security, education and literacy, health and mental health, gender-based violence, safety and justice, political representation, leadership and entrepreneurship, and the experiences of women after retirement.
While the report shows that women in Nevada earn degrees at higher rates, a persistent wage gap remains: statewide, women earn 82.9 cents for every dollar earned by men, and they are still underrepresented in higher-wage industries. This gap widens significantly in rural communities, where women earn just 59.9 cents for every dollar earned by men. These disparities are driven by both access and long-standing perceptions about who belongs in certain careers and whose work is valued.
By providing clear benchmarks and highlighting areas for improvement, it empowers policymakers, employers, and communities to take concrete action to expand opportunities for women statewide.
The data makes one thing clear: progress is not guaranteed. In some areas, it is stalling—or even reversing. Without intentional action, these gaps will continue to shape not only women’s outcomes but Nevada’s broader economic strength and community well-being.
Designed as more than a snapshot, the report serves as a practical tool for decision-making. Policymakers, community leaders, advocates, and employers can use these insights to track progress, guide funding decisions, inform policy, and drive meaningful change—establishing a clear benchmark for measuring impact over time.
An interactive data map also allows readers to explore statistics by county and compare Nevada’s rankings to national data.
Nevada Women’s Fund believes closing the gender gap is not just a matter of equity, it is an economic imperative. Strengthening women’s well-being strengthens families, communities, and the state as a whole.
The public is invited to attend a live presentation of the report in Elko on
June 17th, 4–6:00PM
at the Performing Arts Building, sponsored by Kinross Nevada.