Quick Takes

Published: March 2009

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Women, Ages 20-29

• In 2008, there were nearly the same number of women and men ages 20-29 in the U.S. population: 20,523,000 women in their 20s numbered slightly less than the 20,700,000 men. ¹
• Far more men than women in their 20s were in the labor force in 2008, however: 17,496,000 men compared to 14,971,000 women ages 20-29. ¹ 
  • Women in their 20s have a labor force participation rate of 72.9%, compared to 84.5% of men in the same age range. ¹
• 18.1% of all people ages 20 and older have a bachelor's degree. ²
• 19.3% of women in their 20s have bachelor’s degrees, compared to 15.1% of men in the same age range. ²
  • Of women in their 20s: 3.5% hold master’s degrees; 0.5% hold professional degrees; 0.3% hold doctoral degrees. ²
  • Of men in their 20s: 2.2% hold master’s degrees; 0.6% hold professional degrees; 0.1% hold doctoral degrees. ²

Women, Ages 30-39

• In 2008, there were slightly more women than men ages 30-39 in the U.S. population: 20,026,00 women in their 30s as opposed to 19,690,000 men. ¹
• Far more men than women in their 30s were in the labor force in 2008, however: 18,275,000 men compared to 14,982,000 women ages 30-39. ¹
  • Women in their 30s have a labor force participation rate of 74.8%, compared to 92.8% of men in the same age range ¹
• 24.5% of women in their 30s have bachelor’s degrees, compared to 20.5% of men in the same age range. ²
  • Of women in their 30s: 8.9% hold master’s degrees; 1.6% hold professional degrees; 1.0% hold doctorate degrees. ²
  • Of men in their 30s: 7.1% hold master’s degrees; 1.8% hold professional degrees; 1.4% hold doctorate degrees. ²

Catalyst’s "Generation X" Study

• Catalyst’s study, "The Next Generation: Today’s Professionals, Tomorrow’s Leaders" surveyed women and men born between 1964 and 1974 -- people who in the year 2008 are ages 33-44. Findings in that study include:
  • 29% reported that interference of their jobs in their personal lives was "severe" or "very severe" and another 43% reported it was "moderate." ³
  • 84% said it was "extremely important" to have a loving family while 21% said the same about earning a great deal of money. ³
  • 68% of women cited a commitment to personal and family responsibilities as a barrier to women’s advancement, while only 38% of men agreed with that statement. ³

Sources

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, "Table 2. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by detailed age, sex, and race," Annual Averages 2008 (2009).

² National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics, "Table 9: Number of persons age 18 and over, by highest level of education attained, age, sex, and race/ethnicity, 2007" (2007)

³ Catalyst, The Next Generation: Today’s Professionals, Tomorrow’s Leaders (2001).

 

UPDATED March 2, 2009