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African-American Women

Quick Takes

Published: March 2010

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Labor Force
  • In 2009:
    • Number of African-American women in the labor force: 9,367,0001
    • Percentage of labor force: 6.1%1
    • Percentage of African-American women who participated in the labor force: 60.3%1
    • Number of African-American women employed in management, professional, and related occupations: 2,769,000 (5.3% of all people employed in management, professional, and related occupations)2
  • In 1998:
    • Number of African-American women in the labor force: 8,441,0003
    • Percentage of labor force: 6.1%3
  • Projections for 2018:
    • Number of African-American women in the labor force: 10,655,0003
    • Percentage of labor force: 6.4%3
    • Increase of African-American women in the labor force between 1998 and 2018: 26.2%3
  • Women of color held 3.1% of board seats in the Fortune 500 in 2009. Black women held 63.3% of women of color board directorships.4
Educational Achievement
  • Bachelor's degrees in 2006-2007: 96,968 (6.4% of those getting BA's) compared to 49,685 African-American men (3.3%).5
  • Master's degrees in 2006-2007: 44,667 (7.4% of those getting MA's) compared to 17,907 African-American men (3.0%).5
  • Doctoral degrees in 2006-2007: 2,445 (4.0% of those getting PhDs) compared to 1,282 African-American men (2.1%).5
Income
  • Among full-time wage and salary workers in 2008, African-American women's median weekly earnings were $554, compared to $620 for African-American men.6

Buying Power
  • African-Americans' buying power has increased from $318.1 billion in 1990 to $910.4 billion in 2009 and is projected to climb to $1.1 trillion in 2014. The percentage change in African-Americans' buying power between 1990 and 2014 is 257.3%, higher than the 189.1% growth rate for whites, but lower than other race/ethnic groups. African-Americans' share of the consumer market was 8.5% in 2009.7
SOURCES

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2009 Current Population Survey, "Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by detailed age, sex, and race, Annual Average 2009" (2010).

2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2009 Current Population Survey," Employed and experienced unemployed persons by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, Annual Average 2009" (2010).

3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, "Table 3.4 Civilian labor force by age, sex, race, and ethnicity, 1988, 1998, 2008, and projected 2018" (2009). 

4 Rachel Soares, Nancy M. Carter, and Jan Combopiano, 2009 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors (2009).

5 National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics: 2008 (2009).

6 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2008 (July 2009).

7 Jeffrey M. Humphreys, "The multicultural economy 2009," Selig Center for Economic Growth, University of Georgia, Georgia Business and Economic Conditions, vol. 69, no. 3 (Third Quarter 2009).

UPDATED March 1, 2010

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