Changes and Trends In The Workplace For Women

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The role of women in the workplace has changed quiet a lot in the last fifty years. Today’s family does good to make it on two salaries; let alone on one. Regardless the reasoning, whether it is due to people’s wants changing or whether it has more to do with equality; the fact of the matter is that women today can be found at the workplace; not at home. Even more shocking, recent financial hardships faced by the US have found more men being lain off than women. It seems that the reported 47% of female workers in the workplace have been able to actually keep their jobs today, unlike their male counterparts. Unfortunately, one trend that seems to lay dormant- pay rates. Unlike male workers, females are still earning only 79 cents on the dollar, regardless of their position or career.

There is some promising news in regards to recent trends in the business arena for women; the US Census Bureau reported that between the years of 1997 and 2002, women-owned businesses grew 20 percent. Recent numbers in 2006 showed the total number of female owned businesses skyrocketing to nearly 10.4 million nationwide; earning a whopping $1.9 trillion in revenue, also important, employing at least 12.8 million people in the nationwide. The majority of these businesses were in the services market, including healthcare and social assistance. Retail, professional, scientific and technical services ranked high, as well. For those wondering about regional and geographic trends; you might consider Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, and New York; the top ranked states in regards to the fastest rise in women-owned businesses, employment, and sales.

Although there is still quiet a gap in earnings in regards to men and women in business; one of America’s top earning females, Avon’s Andrea Jung, recently stated that women would no doubt lead the way out of the recession we find ourselves in at the present time. She stated to Newsweek, “When a woman earns a dollar, the payback is higher. She’ll invest in her children, in their education, health care, and basic needs. The impact of a woman’s role in the economy benefits society at large and that has probably never been more important than it is now.” Perhaps the government and our world leaders should take these words into stride when considering our next stimulus package or when looking for ways to boost the economy- but of course it’s doubtful that this will occur; after all, the majority of those making that decision are male.

The future for women in the workplace looks promising; statistics show that more women are choosing careers in the math and science fields; other than the typical teaching and nursing professions. As more and more girls are taught from a young age that ambition depends on belief in oneself and not governed by their sexual identification; more and more girls will grow up to be driven women.