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The Professional Diversity Network released its latest Diversity Jobs Index and Report (DJR) that provides an insight into the job market for the fourth quarter of 2015. It also presents data on the involvement of women in the workforce and employment trends among diverse employee groups.
According to Star Jones, the President of the Professional Diversity Network, 2015 “ended on a positive note for women and minorities in the workforce.” The report states that the percentage of women participating in the workforce (working or looking for a job) was at its peak in 2000, with 60 percent. It had dropped to 46.7 in 2010 and is now at 56.8 percent. Even though women’s representation in the workforce has increased, it is unnerving to realize that 56.2 million women over the age of 16 are not working. This number has reduced from 56.6 million in September 2015, but is still at disturbing heights.
Some factors that keep women from entering the workforce could be the wage gap and the gender equality issues. Even though the wage gap is seen to reduce by 2-3 percent every 10 years, women are paid only 77 cents for every dollar their male counterpart earns and this gap increases in the case of minority women. African-American and Latina women earn 64 cents and 56 cents respectively.
On a more positive note, the report finds that the average unemployment rate for full time workers has dropped from 5.4 percent to 5.1 percent since the third quarter of 2015. Except for the disabled, unemployment rates have reduced for all other categories including African-Americans, Hispanics, women and veterans. Women comprise 41.5 percent of the entire workforce, African-American come in at 12.4, Hispanics at 16.6, veterans at 6.8 and disabled individuals at 2.7.
The study lists the top industries where each group of workers thrive, and we see women excelling in accounting and bookkeeping (63 percent), legal services (55 percent) and education and health services (36.4 percent); veterans are represented in public administration with 13.3 percent, the disabled have carved a niche in agriculture with 7.5 percent, African-Americans hold strong in transportation and utilities with 18 percent and Hispanics account for 28.6 percent of the workforce in construction related jobs.
Diversity exists but we hope to see more organizations embrace it to help create a more comprehensive, diverse workforce in the coming years.
Access the complete report here.