A weekly presentation of downloadable charts and short analyses designed to graphically illustrate important economic issues. Updated every Wednesday.

Snapshot for July 14, 1999

The two-decade trend towards greater diversity in the U.S. workforce should continue into the next century as women and minorities are expected to enter the labor pool with greater frequency. Overall, the number of workers is projected to grow to 149 million in 2006, up from 134 million in 1996 and 118 million in 1986.

In comparison to workforce composition in the 1980s and 1990s, the figure below reveals that by 2006, the U.S. workforce will be comprised of a greater proportion of women (47.4%), Hispanics (11.7%), blacks (11.6%), and Asians (5.4%). Conversely, the share of white workers is anticipated to drop to 83%.

Source: The State of Working America 1998-99 and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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