October 31, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Employment of women, by industry

Women were 46.3 percent of all employed workers in 2006.

Women's percentage of industry employment, selected industries, 2006
[Chart data—TXT]

By industry, women accounted for more than half of all workers within financial activities, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality in 2006.

However, women were substantially underrepresented (relative to their share of total employment in all industries) in construction, mining, manufacturing, and transportation and utilities—accounting for less than a third of the workforce in each of these industries.

These data on women workers are from the Current Population Survey. To find out more, see BLS Report 1002, Women in the Labor Force: A Databook (2007 Edition).