More women are working today than in the past:


Labor force participation rates, 1975-2008

       Men 16 		Men,		Women 16	Women,
       and over	 	projected 	and over	projected
                                   	                                                                   		
1975	77.9				46.3	
1976	77.5				47.3	
1977	77.7				48.4	
1978	77.9				50.0	
1979	77.8				50.9	
1980	77.4				51.5	
1981	77.0				52.1	
1982	76.6				52.6	
1983	76.4				52.9	
1984	76.4				53.6	
1985	76.3				54.5	
1986	76.3				55.3	
1987	76.2				56.0	
1988	76.2				56.6	
1989	76.4				57.4	
1990	76.4				57.5	
1991	75.8				57.4	
1992	75.8				57.8	
1993	75.4				57.9	
1994	75.1				58.8	
1995	75.0				58.9	
1996	74.9				59.3	
1997	75.0				59.8	
1998	74.9				59.8	
1999	74.7				60.0	
2000	74.7				60.2		
2001			74.7				61.0
2002			74.6				61.4
2003			74.6				61.7
2004			74.3				61.4
2005			74.2				61.6
2006			74.1				61.8
2007			73.9				61.9
2008			73.7				61.9
				

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.  In percent.