There are 74.6 million in the civilian labor force and that number is growing at a steady clip.
Statistics just released by the United States Department of Labor show 47 percent of the US work force are women. And listen to this: 70 percent of mothers with children under 18 participate in the labor force and mothers are the primary or sole earners for 40 percent of households with children under 18 today – compared with just 11 percent in 1960. Women are more likely than men to have earned a bachelor’s degree by age 29 and they dominate certain occupations including speech-language pathologists, human resource managers, and education administrators.
The Cape Chamber certainly recognizes the importance of women in our work force. In 2016, we launched our Women’s Network under the leadership of Chamber Vice President Kim Voelker. This initiative focuses on strengthening the community by providing an environment for mentoring, professional development, and leadership growth opportunities for women.
Over the past two years, this group has listened to presentations from women in state leadership roles and participated in several networking events. In addition, workshops were offered on relevant topics including healthy living, serving on boards, and tips for the poised, polished, professional.
In order to have the workforce necessary for the 21st century, all participants need the opportunity to be educated, trained, and ready to contribute. We want to make sure the Cape Chamber is doing its part.
If you are a chamber member and interested in the Women’s Network, contact Kim Voelker.
