Radio Smart Talk: Women’s pay in Lancaster County; tech workers; Ernesto Tamayo concert

Radio Smart Talk for Friday, March 22:

Throughout the country, women earn less than men in most sectors of the workforce. However, a recent national report ranked a Central Pennsylvania county near the bottom in the comparisons between earnings for men and women.

The website 24/7 Wall Street reported that the third widest disparity in pay between men and women nationally is in Lancaster County. Median pay for women in the county in 2011 was $32,446 compared to $47,318 for men. That comes out to women being paid 68.6% of what men are earning.

The difference in pay was only larger in two Utah cities.

The disparity was the smallest in Los Angeles where women make more than 91% of men’s earnings.

Why is the difference so big in Lancaster County?

That’s a question we’ll pose to Scott Sheely, the executive director of the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board on Friday’s program.

Sheely also has some strong opinions on the so-called “middle skill” jobs of the future. He wonders whether enough young people are getting the training they need to become electricians, registered nurses, sales representatives, or welders. He’ll explain on Friday’s program.

Also, world renowned performer, recording artist, teacher, and musical influence, Ernesto Tamayo has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Tamayo is also founder of the Lancaster Guitar Festival. This year’s festival has morphed into one night of guitar music to honor Mr. Tamayo, featuring a number of accomplished guitarists Saturday night at 7:30 at the Ware Center in Lancaster. we’ll learn more on Friday’s program.

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