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Which of the following best completes the passage below? A significant reason for the ongoing disparity in wages between male and female workers is their concentration in so-called pink-collar jobs, such as caregiving, teaching, administrative support, and retail positions. Because these roles have historically been dominated by women, their compensation has suffered, and despite recent efforts to unionize these workers, their earnings remain low. Furthermore, while a greater number of women are now participating in the workforce than ever before, many still choose to pursue careers in pink-collar sectors, despite the lower pay. It is evident, therefore, that for the average earnings of female workers to align more closely with those of their male counterparts, ______