Women now outnumber men in the U.S. college-educated labor force
Women have overtaken men and now account for more than half (50.7%) of the college-educated labor force in the United States.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Women have overtaken men and now account for more than half (50.7%) of the college-educated labor force in the United States.
In 2022, 19% of American workers were in jobs that are the most exposed to artificial intelligence, in which the most important activities may be either replaced or assisted by AI. Women, Asian, college-educated and higher-paid workers have more exposure to AI, but workers in the most exposed industries are more likely to say AI will help more than hurt them personally.
Among adults 25 and older who have no education beyond high school, more women have left the labor force than men.
Americans have mixed views on the importance of having a degree. 47% say the cost is worth it only if someone doesn’t have to take out loans.
Roughly one-in-five Americans ages 65 and older were employed in 2023 – nearly double the share of those who were working 35 years ago.
Women now make up 35% of workers in the United States’ 10 highest-paying occupations – up from 13% in 1980.
About half of upper-income workers (51%) say they take off less time than offered, compared with 45% of middle-income workers and 41% of lower-income workers.
The difference between the earnings of men and women has barely closed in the United States in the past two decades. This gap persists even as women today are more likely than men to have graduated from college, suggesting other factors are at play such as parenthood and other family needs.
Here’s a closer look at what recent surveys have found about Americans’ views of affirmative action.
The higher education pipeline suggests a long path is ahead for increasing diversity, especially in fields like computing and engineering.
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