Women and Work: Then, Now, and Predicting the Future for Women in the Workplace

Business Women in the Workplace

By Susan M. Heathfield, About.com Guide

Tired of reading about Carly Fiorina, the former Chairman and CEO of the merged Hewlett-Packard - Compaq? Fiorina and other successful women such as Condoleezza Rice, Sherry Lansing or Martha Stewart are the poster faces for the 'You've come a long way, baby' spin doctors. I applaud and laud the work success of these business women and hope all people learn from their wisdom and achievements. Indeed, some of these women are my heroes. Rock on!
However, what is happening for the rest of the women in the workforce? More importantly, what does the future hold for business women in the workplace?
Do you want to know what women have achieved now and what the future holds for women and work? Let's polish up our crystal ball and make a few predictions based on current statistics and projections about women and work. I'll show you the then and now statistics and discuss the future of women and work. I'll also recommend objectives and ideas to help employers continue to accomplish this progress for women in the workplace. Read on.

What Percentage of Women Work?

Current:
"In 1950 about one in three women participated in the labor force. By 1998, nearly three of every five women of working age were in the labor force. Among women age 16 and over, the labor force participation rate was 33.9 percent in 1950, compared with 59.8 percent in 1998.
63.3 percent of women age 16 to 24 worked in 1998 versus 43.9 percent in 1950.
76.3 percent of women age 25 to 34 worked in 1998 versus 34.0 percent in 1950.
77.1 percent of women age 35 to 44 worked in 1998 versus 39.1 percent in 1950.
76.2 percent of women age 45 to 54 worked in 1998 versus 37.9 percent in 1950.
51.2 percent of women age 55 to 64 worked in 1998 versus 27 percent in 1950.
8.6 percent of women age 65+ worked in 1998 versus 9.7 percent in 1950.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy