African-American Women
Labor Force
- In 2010:
- Number of African-American women in the labor force: 9,447,0001
- Percentage of labor force: 6.1%2
- Percentage of African-American women who participated in the labor force: 59.9%3
- Number of African-American women employed in management, professional, and related occupations: 2,751,000 (5.3% of all people employed in management, professional, and related occupations)4
- In 1998:
- Number of African-American women in the labor force: 8,441,0005
- Percentage of labor force: 6.1%6
- Projections for 2018:
- Number of African-American women in the labor force: 10,665,0007
- Percentage of labor force: 6.4%8
- Increase of African-American women in the labor force between 1998 and 2018: 26.3%9
- Women of color held 3.0% of board seats in the Fortune 500 in both 2010 and 2011, down from 3.1% in 2009.10
- Of all women board directors, black women held 11.3% of all women directorships. 11
Educational Achievement
- Bachelor’s degrees in 2008-2009: 103,142 (6.4% of those getting BA’s) compared to 53,473 African-American men (3.3%).12
- Master’s degrees in 2008-2009: 50,292 (7.7% of those getting MA’s) compared to 19,718 African-American men (3.0%).13
- Doctoral degrees in 2008-2009: 2,950 (4.4% of those getting PhDs) compared to 1,484 African-American men (2.2%).14
Income
- Among full-time wage and salary workers in 2010, African-American women’s median weekly earnings were $592, compared to $633 for African-American men.15
Weekly Earnings by Race/Ethnic Group16
Buying Power
- African-Americans’ buying power has increased from $316.3 billion in 1990 to $957.3 billion in 2010 and is projected to climb to $1.2 trillion in 2015.17
- The percentage change in African-Americans’ buying power between 1990 and 2015 is 294.4%, higher than the 212.5% growth rate for whites, but lower than other race/ethnic groups.18
- African-Americans’ share of the consumer market was 8.6% in 2010, but will rise to 8.8% in 2015. 19
Sources
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2010 Current Population Survey, "Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Detailed Age, Sex, and Race," Annual Averages 2010 (2011).
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2010 Current Population Survey, "Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Detailed Age, Sex, and Race," Annual Averages 2010 (2011).
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2010 Current Population Survey, "Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Detailed Age, Sex, and Race," Annual Averages 2010 (2011).
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished tabulations from the 2010 Current Population Survey, "Employed and Experienced Unemployed Persons by Detailed Occupation, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011).
5 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).
6 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).
7 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).
8 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).
9 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).
10 Rachel Soares, Baye Cobb, Ellen Lebow, Hannah Winsten, Veronica Wojnas, and Allyson Regis, 2011 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors (Catalyst, 2011); Rachel Soares, Jan Combopiano, Allyson Regis, Yelena Shur, and Rosita Wong, 2010 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors (Catalyst, 2010).
11 Rachel Soares, Baye Cobb, Ellen Lebow, Hannah Winsten, Veronica Wojnas, and Allyson Regis, 2011 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors (Catalyst, 2011).
12 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 297: Bachelor’s Degrees Conferred by Degree Granting Institutions, By Sex, Race/Ethnicity, and Field of Study, 2008-2009," Digest of Education Statistics: 2010 (2011).
13 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 300: Master’s Degrees Conferred by Degree Granting Institutions, By Sex, Race/Ethnicity, and Field of Study, 2008-2009," Digest of Education Statistics: 2010 (2011).
14 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 303: Doctor’s Degrees Conferred by Degree Granting Institutions, By Sex, Race/Ethnicity, and Field of Study, 2008-2009," Digest of Education Statistics: 2010 (2011).
15 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2010 (July 2011).
16 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2010 (July 2011).
17 Jeffrey M. Humphreys, The Multicultural Economy 2010, Selig Center for Economic Growth, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, Georgia Business and Economic Conditions (2010).
18 Jeffrey M. Humphreys, The Multicultural Economy 2010, Selig Center for Economic Growth, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, Georgia Business and Economic Conditions (2010).
19 Jeffrey M. Humphreys, The Multicultural Economy 2010, Selig Center for Economic Growth, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, Georgia Business and Economic Conditions (2010).
UPDATED December 14, 2011
