There is no greater time to be an American woman, but through the constant negativity in the media, it’s hard to cut through the noise and focus on results.  While there may be more work to do, women are thriving in today’s America in many measurable ways. It is a subject matter that White House Senior Advisor, Ivanka Trump, has been increasingly passionate about, not only in America, but around the globe. Let’s cut through the noise and look at how women are thriving in America. 

1) Female unemployment reached its lowest in 65 years in both May and September of 2018. 

Women’s unemployment was 3.6% in 2018. The last time women’s unemployment was that low was October of 1953.

As a country, as of February of this year, we are currently sitting at a national unemployment rate of about 3.8%. The last time it was this low was in December of 2000. Unemployment was at its highest in December of 1982 when it was at 10.4%. In the past decade, the highest unemployment we have seen happened in November of 2010 at 9% unemployment. It’s never been easier for women to find work in America. With low unemployment rates, women are taking the workforce by storm!

2) More than half of job growth this past year came from women.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 2.8 million new jobs added since January 2018, 1.6 million, or 58.3%, went to women. The number of women working, at around 74.9 million, is the highest it’s ever been. This is huge news. There is still a ton of moves to be made, but women are major contributors to and in the workforce.

3) Labor participation rates for women are the highest in years.

Labor participation rates of prime-aged females reached 76% in January, the highest rate since 2003. The last time the participation percentage of prime-age females was 76% was April 2003. The highest our participation has been was in 77.3% in 2000. The lowest it has been since 2003 is 73.3% in September of 2015. More and more women are participating in the labor force which is incredible. Women have strived to have to prove themselves for decades but let’s be clear, we have nothing to prove. Our numbers speak for us. 

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4)   Women are starting businesses at record levels.

According to  2018 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, women are starting about 1,821 new U.S. businesses per day, up from an average of 900 in both 2012 and 2017. In fact, women lead and own 4 out of 10 businesses in the United States. The number of businsesses owned and led by minority women has grown 163% since 2007. In addition, the overall number of women-owned businesses have surged 3,000 percent since 1972.

Wages are on the rise, women are participating more than ever, and job growth is happening at record levels for women. There might be more work to do with issues like sexual harassment in the workplace, workplace discrimination, and problems surrounding family leave, but the fact of the matter, is that women are winning in this economy.

Caroline C.
FFL Cabinet Member
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