How Has the Percentage of Women in the Workforce Changed?

The representation of women in the workforce continues to increase. Almost 60% of women age 16 or over are in the workforce as of 2010, as compared to about 35% in 1952. Worldwide, nearly 200 million women have entered the workforce since 1995. Even though women compose about 40% of the global workforce, about 70% of people living in poverty worldwide are women.

More facts about women in the workforce:

• Women comprise about 46% of the US labor work force, but make approximately 80% of the salary amount that men do.


• The Middle East has the lowest percentage of women in the workforce: on average, about 25% of the workforce in Middle Eastern countries is composed of women.


• 65% of women in high-end management positions in the US have children.