10 best and worst cities for working women

Millions of women left the workforce at the start of the pandemic, often to shoulder full-time caregiving responsibilities. Three years later, women are making a comeback, but are they working in the right place?

According to the U.S. Labor Department, an all-time high of 77.8% of women ages 25 to 54 are looking for or currently have a job. For women about to join the workforce, HR tech company Checkr ranked 100 of the largest U.S. cities based on factors like the number of women in the local workforce, the number of women in management positions, women's salaries and wage disparities between genders. Notably, few large, coastal cities made the top ten, and Florida dominated the rankings. 

"A great city for women in the workplace is characterized by a combination of factors that support equal opportunities and growth," says Sara Korolevich, head of digital content at Checkr. "Florida is a great place for women due to its diverse economy, job opportunities across various industries and strong entrepreneurial spirit."

Read more: The 'she-cession' is over. Have women's career paths improved?

Korolevich points out that Florida's lack of a state income tax can help women maximize their earnings, while the state's host of relatively affordable universities can support career growth. Meanwhile, cities like Honolulu and New York ranked in the bottom ten for wage disparities and a lack of women in leadership positions. 

Here are the 10 best and worst cities for women in the workforce, according to Checkr. Each city was given a score out of 100; the lower the score, the better the city.