August 26 marks Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Since that time women have made significant strides in many facets of public life — perhaps none more striking than in the labor market.
The labor force participation rate — a key indicator of economic health — measures the pool of potential workers available in the economy. This includes both people who are employed and actively looking for a job. A higher labor participation rate means more people are contributing to the economy, increasing the output of goods and services.
In 1950, the United States’ labor force participation rate was 59.2%, but by 2000 this figure had jumped to 67.1%. What led to this increase in the labor force participation rate? The rapid rise of women entering the labor market was a key contributor to the increase. During the same period, the share of women taking part in the workforce soared from 33.8% to 59.9%.
“Quiet Revolution” Accelerates Labor Market in the 1970s
Demand for office and clerical workers in the early 20th century gave rise to women's increased participation in the labor market. A “quiet revolution,” as described by Nobel prize-winning economist Claudia Goldin, accelerated in the 1970s as expectations around careers and family began to change. Young women increasingly anticipated and prepared for future careers, seeking the education and training that would qualify them for more skilled careers and positions.
The influx of women into the labor pool not only brought societal shifts, but it also improved the economy by increasing economic output, consumer spending, tax revenue, poverty reduction, and overall quality of life.
Women’s labor force participation peaked at 60% in 1999, followed by a decline in the early 2000s. It dipped further in the wake of the Great Recession from 2007-09 and again during the COVID-19 pandemic as both women and men dropped out of the workforce. While women’s employment was disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, women helped drive the labor market’s post-pandemic recovery, rebounding more quickly than men.
Today, women in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming are participating in the labor force at greater rates than the national average of 57.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2023, the labor force participation rate for women averaged:
- 62.2% in Utah
- 57.6% in Idaho
- 59.2% in Wyoming