Women in the Civilian Labor
Force, 1900–2001

Year	Number^1 (thousands)	% female population aged 16 and over^1	% of labor force population aged 16 and over^1
1900	5,319	18.8 %	18.3 %
1910	7,445	21.5	19.9
1920	8,637	21.4	20.4
1930	10,752	22.0	22.0
1940	12,845	25.4	24.3
1950	18,389	33.9	29.6
1960	23,240	37.7	33.4
1970	31,543	43.3	38.1
1980	45,487	51.5	42.5
1990^2	56,829	57.5	45.2
1993	58,795	57.9	45.5
1994^3	60,239	58.8	46.0
1995	60,944	58.9	46.1
1996	61,857	59.3	46.2
1997	63,036	59.8	46.2
1998	63,714	59.8	46.3
1999	64,855	60.0	46.5
2000	65,616	60.2	46.6
2001	62,992	60.1	44.4

1. For 1900–1930, data relate to population and labor force aged 10 and over; for 1940, to population and labor force aged 14 and over; beginning 1950, to civilian population and labor force aged 16 and over.

2. Data beginning in 1990 are not strictly comparable with data for prior years because population controls were adjusted.

3. Data beginning 1994 are not strictly comparable with data for prior years because of a major redesign of the Current Population Survey (household survey) questionnaire and collection methodology.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau.