Author: Judy Bruhn
While celebrating the accomplishments of all women during Women’s History Month, we especially focus on Frances Perkins, selected by FDR to be the nation’s first female cabinet member. As the longest serving Secretary of Labor, she was widely recognized for inspiring and implementing new programs and policies such as Social Security, the 40-hour work week, the child labor ban, and unemployment relief.
Now, let’s take a look at the top four pieces of information from publicly available data related to women and work.
Male–Female Employment Gap Narrows
The percentage of men who were employed between 1870 and 2015 has centered around 60%, ranging from 54.0% in 1920 to 67.2% in 1990. During this same time frame, North Carolina’s women’s employment increased from approximately 11.7% in 1870 to 59.2% in 1990, an almost 500% increase.
Gender-Dominated Occupations Still Exist
Defining nontraditional careers as occupations with 25% or fewer women (or men) workers, the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau tracks national traditional and nontraditional occupational composition for women based on Current Population Survey data, regularly posting the data at https://www.dol.gov/wb/stats/nontra_traditional_occupations.htm.
Listed below are the top five full-time occupations by percentage of each gender in North Carolina in 2015. Conversely, the top five women’s occupations will be the five least traditional occupations for men.
Most female by percentage (minimum 5,000 workers), primarily Service focus:
- Preschool and kindergarten teachers (98.6%)
- Secretaries and administrative assistants (96.5%)
- Child care workers (94.1%)
- Registered Nurses (90.6%)
- Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (88.1%)
Most male by percentage (minimum 5,000 workers), primarily Craftsmen focus:
- Electricians (99.2%)
- Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (98.9%)
- Carpenters (97.7%)
- Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (97.6%)
- Construction trades workers except carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and construction laborers (97.6%)
Women Shift Toward Professional Careers
During the last 40 years, women’s occupations have shifted more toward professional work.
Sources: US Census Bureau 1980 and 1970 Census of Population Supplementary Reports - Detailed Occupation of the Experienced Civilian Labor Force by Sex for the United States and Regions, and EEO Tabulation EEO-ALL1R based on 2006-2010 American Community Survey, www.census.gov/people/eeotabulation/data/
Women-Owned Firms Are on the Rise
Men still comprise the majority of business owners, but women are gaining. Between 2007 and 2012, the growth in women-owned firms well-outpaced the growth in male-owned firms in North Carolina – increasing 27.3% vs 3.5%.
