Young women starting careers with high education, low confidence

Young women are entering the workforce with more education than their male colleagues, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center. Most don't think they've been discriminated against, so far. But they think that over time they will earn less than their male peers and have fewer opportunities for advancement.

According to the Pew study, most young Americans — but more women than men — believe more change is necessary to achieve equity in the workplace. And young women think their careers will suffer if they take time off to have a baby.

"My advice to women in the workplace would be to keep your head down, work hard and know your stuff," wrote Nancy Reyes, a New York business executive, in a letter published in the New York Times. "The more you know, the more powerful you are. Always be thorough. Strive to be the person that people count on."

Though the survey focuses on women from what's called the millennial generation, it also looks at attitudes about women and work across generations. The Daily Circuit will discuss the latest research from Pew and consider the remaining barriers to women in the workplace.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUNG WOMEN AND WORK:

• Pew survey finds pay gains for millennial women
The improvement in pay is largely due to rising earnings of women who are increasingly better educated. Thirty-eight percent of women 25 to 32, for instance, report having a bachelor's degree, versus 31% of men. There's also greater labor force participation among women and an increased presence in more lucrative jobs. ... Though the pay gains are significant, researchers warn that women still face roadblocks in achieving and maintaining parity in pay over the course of their professional lives. (Los Angeles Times)

• Millennial Women Make Nearly as Much as Men, but Still Have Dim View of Equality
Among workers ages 25 to 34, the hourly wage gap is considerably narrower, with women earning 93 cents for every dollar men did last year. For all workers, ages 16 and older, the hourly wage gap is wider, with women earning 84 cents for each dollar men do.(Wall Street Journal)