According to statistics-
60% of the total labor force will be female by 2005
managerial/professional
technical and information technology
sales and administration
precision production, craft, and repair
Women have made substantial progress in obtaining jobs in virtually all managerial and professional specialty occupations. In the 1980's females reached the status of holding 40% of these high paying
jobs and 47% in the early 90's. Women employed in managerial/professional occupations in the early 90's weekly earnings between $357 and $917, well below males in the same postions, but making progress in equity.
Women are still over-represented in low-paying jobs. Almost 50% of employed women work in sales, technical, and administrative support jobs. Even though the earnings gap between males and females is slowly closing, women still earn only 75 cents for each dollar earned by men in comparison of weekly full-time workers. The 5 best-paying careers for females are:
lawyers
physicians
pharmacists
engineers
computer systems analysts
scientists
Females are less likely than men to be self-employed. Of approximately 9 million business owners in the United States, only 3 million are females. Most self-employed women work in services, such as
business, health, and legal services, or in wholesale and retail trade. Self-employment has led many women to become entrepreneurs. Females own many sole proprietorships marketing unusual services or products large corporations do not offer.
In the year 2000, 12.8 million homes/families were maintained by females, representing nearly 18% of all families. Nearly 80% of females who managed a home and family were employed in 2000.
The majority of "non-standard" workers (who do not hold regular, full-time jobs) are women, and 55% of workers paid by temporary agencies are female. 70% of part-time workers are female. In 2001, there were 3.6 million female multiple job holders, with 47% of all multiple jobholders in 2001 being females, up from 20% in 1973. More women are unable to find full employment or appropriate positions and are thence turning to multiple jobs to make ends meet, often working much more than 40 hours per week, and often not being compensated at a 1.5 level for hours over 40 per week. I sure have experienced this, have you, ladies?
As those of you who have read my bio on the Seekers page know, I am a mid-life female embarking on a career and lifestyle change. Upon relocation to Florida from Colorao, I will be enrolling in writing and photography classes. With increased education, and therefore skill, I hope to earn a living from a more creative mixed-media work product.
Although I am "comfortable" as a comptroller, and have been in this occupation many years, my mind, heart, and spirit feel stagnant and I feel a lack of control over my own time, energy, and purpose. Many women in their late-thirties and early-forties are experiencing this same transition, seeking a more meaningful and fulfilling sense of purpose. Over the next few months I hope to add many useful references and contacts to assist women who wish to increase their education, change their career, or earn more doing what they do.
According to statistics for higher education enrollment, total enrollment has increased by 13% between 1977 and 1997. Much of this growth was in female enrollment. Between 1987 and 1997, the number of men enrolled rose 7% while the number of women increased by 17%. Part-time enrollment rose by 9%. The number of older students has been growing more rapidly than the number of younger students. From 1990 to 97, the enrollment of students under age 25 increased by 2% and for persons 25 and over rose it was 7%. If you are thinking about returning to school, you aren't alone in the least. GO FOR IT! Your mind and creativity will be stimulated, and your career will most certainly advance.
Since 1984, the number of women in graduate schools has exceeded the number of men. Between 1987 and 1997, the number of male full-time graduate students increased by 22%, compared to 68 percent for full-time women. Among part-time graduate students, the number of men decreased by 1% compared to a 15% INCREASE for women.
Women working and making careers is nothing new but the numbers are increasing, as are the numbers of women that want MORE from life, more purpose, more hope, more interest, and more security and prosperity earned and owned by themselves, as they stand on their own two feet.
