Women Now Outnumber Men In The U.S. College-Educated Labor Force
Endnote
Women have overtaken men and now account for more than half (50.7%) of the college-educated labor force in the United States, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of government data. The change occurred in the fourth quarter of 2019 and remains the case today, even though the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sharp recession and an overall decline in the size of the nation’s labor force.
Women now represent a majority of the college-educated labor force in the U.S.
Number of people ages 25 and older in the U.S. labor force with at least a bachelor’s degree, in millions
Labor force of women without a college degree has shrunk since 2019
Number of people ages 25 and older in the U.S. labor force, in millions
College-educated women are participating in the U.S. labor force at the same rate as before the pandemic
Percentage of women and men either employed or actively looking for work, second quarter of 2019 and second quarter of 2022
Note: Percentage point change is calculated prior to rounding. “Some college” includes those with an associate degree and those who attended college and did not obtain a degree.
Graphics: The Pew Charitable Trusts.
MORE FROM PEW
Explore Pew’s new and improved
Fiscal 50 interactive
Your state's stats are more accessible than ever with our new and improved Fiscal 50 interactive:
- Maps, trends, and customizable charts
- 50-state rankings
- Analysis of what it all means
- Shareable graphics and downloadable data
- Proven fiscal policy strategies
Welcome to the new Fiscal 50
Key changes include:
- State pages that help you keep track of trends in your home state and provide national and regional context.
- Interactive indicator pages with highly customizable and shareable data visualizations.
- A Budget Threads feature that offers Pew’s read on the latest state fiscal news.