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September 22 is American Business Women’s Day, a day that commemorates and celebrates the legacies, achievements and contributions of American working women and business owners. The day’s first observance was sponsored by the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) in 1982, and in 1983 and 1986 it was recognized by Congressional resolution and a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan.
Women Business Owners as of 2012
- There are 9.9 million women-owned businesses in the U.S.
- From 2007 to 2012, women-owned businesses increased by 26.8 percent
- Women-owned businesses generate $1.4 trillion in receipts
- 89.5 percent of women-owned businesses had no employees other than the owner
- 10.5 percent of women-owned businesses are employer firms, employing 8.4 million people in addition to the owner
Women in the labor force
- In 1948, 32.7 percent of women participated in the labor force; in 2016, this figure was 56.8 percent of women
- Today, there are 74.6 million women in the civilian labor force
- 47 percent of U.S. workers are women
- Between 1970 and 2010, women civil engineers increased by 977 percent; pharmacists by 434 percent; physicians and surgeons by 334 percent; and lawyers and judges by 681 percent
We must continue to support and celebrate the achievements of women in order to help progress the movement for gender equality. When women succeed, we all succeed; from the economy and company bottom lines to future generations of women moving up the ranks. Celebrate the working women in your life today!