Women in the Labor Force

The following table lists the number of employed women in the United States labor force from 1900 to the present, according to year, percent of females over 16 years old, and percent of labor force over 16 years old.

Year	Number¹ (thousands)	% female population aged 16 and over¹	% of labor force population aged 16 and over¹
1900	5,319	18.8 %	18.3 %
1910	7,445	21.5	19.9
1920	8,637	21.4	20.4
1930	10,752	22.0	22.0
1940	12,845	25.4	24.3
1950	18,389	33.9	29.6
1960	23,240	37.7	33.4
1970	31,543	43.3	38.1
1980	45,487	51.5	42.5
1990²	56,829	57.5	45.2
1993	58,795	57.9	45.5
1994³	60,239	58.8	46.0
1995	60,944	58.9	46.1
1996	61,857	59.3	46.2
1997	63,036	59.8	46.2
1998	63,714	59.8	46.3
1999	64,855	60.0	46.5
2000	66,303	60.2	46.6
2001	66,848	60.1	46.5
2002	67,363	59.8	46.5
2003	68,272	59.5	47.0
2004	68,421	59.2	46.0
2005	69,288	59.3	46.4
2006	70,000	59.4	46.0
2007	67,792	56.6	46.4
2008	71,767	59.5	44.0
2010	71,904	58.6	53.6

1. For 1900–1930, data relate to population and labor force age 10 and over; for 1940, to population and labor force age 14 and over; beginning 1950, to civilian population and labor force age 16 and over.

2. Data beginning in 1990 are not strictly comparable with data for prior years because population controls were adjusted.

3. Data beginning 1994 are not strictly comparable with data for prior years because of a major revision to survey methodology.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Web: www.dol.gov.

Employment Status by Race, 1975–2005

Labor and Employment

Mothers in the Labor Force, 1955–2004

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