Women in Their 20s & 30s
Women, Ages 20-29
- In 2010, there were nearly the same number of women and men ages 20-29 in the U.S. population: 20,993,000 women in their 20s numbered slightly less than the 21,154,000 men.1
- Far more men than women in their 20s were in the labor force in 2010, however: 17,234,000 men compared to 15,095,000 women ages 20-29. 2
- Women in their 20s have a labor force participation rate of 71.9%, compared to 81.5% of men in the same age range. 3
- 18.4% of all people ages 20 and older have a bachelor’s degree.4
- 20.5% of women in their 20s have bachelor’s degrees, compared to 15.6% of men in the same age range. 5
- Of women in their 20s: 4.0% hold master’s degrees; 0.6% hold professional degrees; 0.3% hold doctorate degrees. 6
- Of men in their 20s: 2.7% hold master’s degrees; 0.5% hold professional degrees; 0.3% hold doctorate degrees. 7
Women, Ages 30-39
- In 2010, there were slightly more women than men ages 30-39 in the U.S. population: 19,845,000 women in their 30s as opposed to 19,541,000 men. 8
- Far more men than women in their 30s were in the labor force in 2010, however: 17,910,000 men compared to 14,675,000 women ages 30-39.9
- Women in their 30s have a labor force participation rate of 73.9%, compared to 91.7% of men in the same age range. 10
- 23.9% of women in their 30s have bachelor’s degrees, compared to 20.4% of men in the same age range. 11
- Of women in their 30s: 9.9% hold master’s degrees; 1.9% hold professional degrees; 1.1% hold doctorate degrees. 12
- Of men in their 30s: 7.0% hold master’s degrees; 1.9% hold professional degrees; 1.5% hold doctorate degrees. 13
Catalyst’s Generation X Study
- Catalyst’s 2001 study, "The Next Generation: Today’s Professionals, Tomorrow’s Leaders" surveyed women and men born between 1964 and 1975 – people who in the year 2011 are ages 36-47. Findings of 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."14
- 84% said it was "extremely important" to have a loving family while 21% said the same about earning a great deal of money. 15
- 68% of women cited a commitment to personal and family responsibilities as a barrier to women’s advancement, while only 38% of men agreed or strongly agreed with that statement. 16
SOURCES
1 Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Table 3: Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Age, Sex, and Race, 2010," Annual Average 2010 (2011).
2 Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Table 3: Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Age, Sex, and Race, 2010," Annual Average 2010 (2011).
3 Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Table 3: Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Age, Sex, and Race, 2010," Annual Average 2010 (2011).
4 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 9: Number of Persons Age 18 and Over, by Highest Level of Education Attained, Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity, 2009," Digest of Education Statistics 2010 (2011).
5 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 9: Number of Persons Age 18 and Over, by Highest Level of Education Attained, Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity, 2009," Digest of Education Statistics 2010 (2011).
6 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 9: Number of Persons Age 18 and Over, by Highest Level of Education Attained, Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity, 2009," Digest of Education Statistics 2010 (2011).
7 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 9: Number of Persons Age 18 and Over, by Highest Level of Education Attained, Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity, 2009," Digest of Education Statistics 2010 (2011).
8 Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Table 3: Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Age, Sex, and Race, 2010," Annual Average 2010 (2011).
9 Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Table 3: Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Age, Sex, and Race, 2010," Annual Average 2010 (2011).
10 Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Table 3: Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Age, Sex, and Race, 2010," Annual Average 2010 (2011).
11 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 9: Number of Persons Age 18 and Over, by Highest Level of Education Attained, Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity, 2009," Digest of Education Statistics 2010 (2011).
12 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 9: Number of Persons Age 18 and Over, by Highest Level of Education Attained, Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity, 2009," Digest of Education Statistics 2010 (2011).
13 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 9: Number of Persons Age 18 and Over, by Highest Level of Education Attained, Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity, 2009," Digest of Education Statistics 2010 (2011).
14 Catalyst Inc., The Next Generation: Today’s Professionals, Tomorrow’s Leaders (2001).
15 Catalyst Inc., The Next Generation: Today’s Professionals, Tomorrow’s Leaders (2001).
16 Catalyst Inc., The Next Generation: Today’s Professionals, Tomorrow’s Leaders (2001).
UPDATED April 13, 2011
