A new finding about the gender pay gap in Allen County sparked murmurs today among the mostly female crowd gathered for the release of a report focused on women and girls: the gulf has widened by nearly $1,500.

The $16,173 gender pay gap is larger than both the state's and country's, the 2025 Allen County Women and Girls Report found.

The study was an update to research that launched the Women's Fund of Greater Fort Wayne in 2020. Census information, survey data and insights from hundreds of women, girls and community partners contributed to the findings, which focused on economic security, personal safety and young women and girls.

About 51% of Allen County residents are female.

"We've heard their voices, and the message is clear," Director Cassie Beer told about 50 people at the Alle

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