Women at Work since 1970

The feminist movement of the 1970’s struggled to secure women positions in the workplace.  Recent statistics suggest that these efforts have certainly paid off, as women’s employment has nearly doubled since 1970.  This upward trend ceased in recent years, however.  In 1999, the United States saw the most women paid for their labor.  At that time, 60 percent of women were part of the labor market —as opposed to 59.2 percent of women in 2009.

What does this stagnation in women’s labor mean for recruiters?  What role does each of us play in encouraging or discouraging women’s work?  Furthermore, these statistics include all working women—even those receiving payment for a mere ten hours of work per week.

The past decade’s dip in progress serves as a cautionary reminder not to take progress for granted.  Women’s right to work must be continually revisited and reasserted.   Note that though sheer numbers of employed women increased since 1999, but the percentage of women in the labor force has shrunk.