Despite progress, women still fare worse than men in labor markets. Differences in employment rates, participation in part-time work, compensation, and work quality lead to gender gaps in earnings and career advance despite progress, women still fare worse than men in labor markets. Differences in employment rates, participation in part-time work, compensation, and work quality lead to gender gaps in earnings and career advancement. This contributes to lower lifetime earnings and a greater risk of old-age poverty for women. Cement. This contributes to lower lifetime earnings and a greater risk of old-age poverty for women.