December 27, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Work experience in 2001

A total of 150.3 million persons worked at some point during 2001, somewhat fewer than in the previous year.

[Chart data—TXT]

The proportion of the working age population that was employed at some point during the year was 69.3 percent, down from 70.4 percent in 2000. Among men, 76.1 percent worked at some point during 2001, down from 77.2 percent. Among women, the share experiencing employment fell to 63 percent in 2001 from 64 percent in 2000.

Among those with work experience during 2001, 75.6 percent were employed year round (either full or part time), down from 76.0 percent. The percentage of men employed year round fell to 78.6 percent in 2001 from 79.7 percent in 2000. Continuing a long-term growth trend, full-year employment among women increased to 72.3 percent from 71.8 percent in 2000.

These data are from a supplement to the March 2002 Current Population Survey.  Data for 2000 have been revised. Get more information from news release USDL 02-673, "Work Experience of the Population in 2001."