Economy increases layoffs
Women present in workforce
Rachel McPearson
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: News
With thousands of layoffs announced daily, women may be on the verge of taking over the work force and surpassing men for the first time in history.
Women first made their presence known during World War II. American troops were overseas fighting, and labor was needed in the factories along with the fields of nursing and education. Before then, the thought of roles for women in America were that the women were always neat and kept the house and children tidy.
In the past years, men have dominated the work place, but slowly women have overcome obstacles such as sex segregation and the glass ceiling to make their presence known.
"Women are key contributors in greater numbers, bringing awareness for issues that are not being addressed," Tiffany Boiman, director of policy and programs for Women Work, said.
According to the United States Department of Labor website, women are projected to account for 47 percent of the labor work force in 2016. The largest percentage of employed women work in management, professional and related occupations. Thirty-four percent work in sales and office occupations, 20 percent work in service occupations, six percent work in production, transportation and material moving occupations and one percent work in natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations.
Men are known to typically represent jobs in engineering manufacturing, operations, welding and warehouse that take a hard fall in this recession state.
On the other hand, more women tend to be in the work fields of education and nursing where there is always going to be a high demand with few layoffs.
"Advantages and disadvantages are based on the woman's skill set," Bobby Mixon, economics professor, said.
Student Bryan Shoemaker said in the past, men had an obligation to work in order to provide for the family while the women would be pictured as homemakers to maintain the house duties and care for the children.
Women first made their presence known during World War II. American troops were overseas fighting, and labor was needed in the factories along with the fields of nursing and education. Before then, the thought of roles for women in America were that the women were always neat and kept the house and children tidy.
In the past years, men have dominated the work place, but slowly women have overcome obstacles such as sex segregation and the glass ceiling to make their presence known.
"Women are key contributors in greater numbers, bringing awareness for issues that are not being addressed," Tiffany Boiman, director of policy and programs for Women Work, said.
According to the United States Department of Labor website, women are projected to account for 47 percent of the labor work force in 2016. The largest percentage of employed women work in management, professional and related occupations. Thirty-four percent work in sales and office occupations, 20 percent work in service occupations, six percent work in production, transportation and material moving occupations and one percent work in natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations.
Men are known to typically represent jobs in engineering manufacturing, operations, welding and warehouse that take a hard fall in this recession state.
On the other hand, more women tend to be in the work fields of education and nursing where there is always going to be a high demand with few layoffs.
"Advantages and disadvantages are based on the woman's skill set," Bobby Mixon, economics professor, said.
Student Bryan Shoemaker said in the past, men had an obligation to work in order to provide for the family while the women would be pictured as homemakers to maintain the house duties and care for the children.
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