The Female Labor Force In The United States Factors Governing Its Growth And Changing Composition PDF Download

The study focuses on the relationship between economic development and trends in female labor force participation. The discussion is confined to the United States. The study is divided into four parts. With economic development, longevity has increased - more so for females than for males. As a result, the share of females and elderly persons in the working-age population has increased. For the periods 1900-1930 and 1930-1950, the relation between changes in the sex-age composition of the working-age population and the rise in the share of females in the labor force is investigated. In section II, factors that may influence the supply of female labor services at a moment of time and over time are surveyed. The variables include (1) the decline in the birth rate and in average family size, (2) the spread of education, (3) urbanization, (4) the reduction in the length of the work week, (5) changes in the legal, political, and social statue of women, (6) the growth in real income, and (7) the reduction in housework. In section III factors influencing the demand for female labor services are examined. The analysis is based on the relation between the job characteristics of various occupations and the characteristics of women as active workers. in section IV a procedure is adopted for testing the relation between the growth of the distribution and service industries and the rise in the share of females in the labor force.