Figure B
Women’s labor force participation is higher than it was 50 years ago, while men’s is lower than it was: Prime-age labor force participation rate by gender, 1976–2024
| Year | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 56.8% | 94.1% |
| 1977 | 58.6% | 94.2% |
| 1978 | 60.7% | 94.3% |
| 1979 | 62.5% | 94.4% |
| 1980 | 64.1% | 94.2% |
| 1981 | 65.5% | 94.1% |
| 1982 | 66.5% | 94.0% |
| 1983 | 67.3% | 93.8% |
| 1984 | 68.4% | 93.9% |
| 1985 | 69.7% | 93.9% |
| 1986 | 70.9% | 93.8% |
| 1987 | 71.9% | 93.7% |
| 1988 | 72.7% | 93.6% |
| 1989 | 73.7% | 93.7% |
| 1990 | 73.9% | 93.4% |
| 1991 | 74.1% | 93.0% |
| 1992 | 74.6% | 93.0% |
| 1993 | 74.6% | 92.6% |
| 1994 | 75.3% | 91.8% |
| 1995 | 75.7% | 91.6% |
| 1996 | 76.2% | 91.8% |
| 1997 | 76.7% | 91.9% |
| 1998 | 76.5% | 91.8% |
| 1999 | 76.8% | 91.7% |
| 2000 | 76.7% | 91.6% |
| 2001 | 76.4% | 91.3% |
| 2002 | 75.9% | 91.0% |
| 2003 | 75.6% | 90.6% |
| 2004 | 75.3% | 90.5% |
| 2005 | 75.3% | 90.5% |
| 2006 | 75.5% | 90.6% |
| 2007 | 75.4% | 90.9% |
| 2008 | 75.8% | 90.5% |
| 2009 | 75.6% | 89.7% |
| 2010 | 75.2% | 89.3% |
| 2011 | 74.7% | 88.7% |
| 2012 | 74.5% | 88.7% |
| 2013 | 73.9% | 88.4% |
| 2014 | 73.9% | 88.2% |
| 2015 | 73.7% | 88.3% |
| 2016 | 74.3% | 88.5% |
| 2017 | 75.0% | 88.6% |
| 2018 | 75.3% | 89.0% |
| 2019 | 76.0% | 89.1% |
| 2020 | 75.1% | 87.9% |
| 2021 | 75.3% | 88.0% |
| 2022 | 76.4% | 88.6% |
| 2023 | 77.4% | 89.2% |
| 2024 | 77.9% | 89.3% |
Notes: Data include the civilian noninstitutional population. “Prime age” refers to ages 25 to 54.
Source: EPI analysis of the Current Population Survey (CPS) basic monthly microdata, EPI Current Population Survey Extracts, Version 2025.6.11, https://microdata.epi.org.
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