Women in the Labor Force

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

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
2014 73,039 56.9 57.0
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.

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