New Publication Offers Analysis of Women in the Work Force
Women Comprise Majority of Professional and Technical Workers

Washington, DC – The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) today released a new publication, Salaried and Professional Women: Relevant Statistics, 2000 Edition, which offers analysis and statistical data on women in the work force.

"Our report demonstrates that women have made significant progress into the higher echelons of the American work force," said Paul E. Almeida, President of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO. "Today, they comprise the majority of professional and technical workers. Yet equal pay remains a problem for all women. Women continue to earn less than their male counterparts in the vast majority of professional, technical æ and all other æ occupations."

This report examines the world of work for women, including their work force participation and occupational distribution, their numbers and earnings in selected white collar occupations, and their increased participation in unions and higher education. Among the highlights:

• &Mac183; Women account for 46.5% of the labor force. They constitute the majority of workers in the two most rapidly growing occupational categories: the professional and technical occupations.
• While gender differences in labor force participation and occupational distribution are diminishing, women still receive substantially less pay than men in all occupational categories. And because women are paid less when they work, so they receive smaller pensions (and Social Security checks) when they retire, compounding the inequity.
• Women's college enrollment now exceeds that of men. In fact, women have been earning more Bachelor's degrees than men since 1982 and they have been earning more Master's degrees than men since 1981.
• The median wages of women who are union members are 15% more than those of men who are not union members. Today, almost 40% of all union members are women.

The publication is a valuable reference tool for academic institutions and local libraries, union officers and staff, and anyone interested in the work force. The cost per issue is $7.50 postage paid and a quantity price is available upon request. Call Paula McKenzie at 202-638-5670 to place an order.

The Department for Professional Employees (DPE), AFL-CIO represents 23 affiliated national and international unions comprising over four million white collar workers. DPE was chartered in 1977 in recognition of the dramatic rise in professional and technical employees among union members.

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