by KYW's Michelle Durham
Recent Labor Department statistics show that women in Pennsylvania earn only 79-percent of what their male counterparts do. In New Jersey, it is slightly worse; women earned just 77.1-percent of what men do, but these statistics are actually an improvement over previous years.
Why do women continue to earn less then men? Dr. Crystal Harold (above) of Temple University's Fox School of Business, specializing in human resources, says one of the main reasons is that women are not as strong when it comes to salary negotiation.
"Women tend to come in with the attitude that this is a win-win process whereas men are much more competitive. They aren't afraid to put it all on the table and threaten to walk away. Women have to get a little bit more of that competitive edge."
Harold says another area where women can improve their earning potential is mentoring:
"Men are just more likely to have those career mentors to guide them through these processes and women just have the same opportunities."
The advice you receive from a mentor is crucial, and statistics prove those who have a career mentor make more money then those who don't, so don't be afraid to seek advice.
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