Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Utah Women Stats Research Snapshot

Volume

52

Publisher

Utah Women & Leadership Project

Publication Date

12-6-2023

First Page

1

Last Page

4

Abstract

Since 1950, women ages 16 and older in Utah have increased their labor force participation from 24.5%1 to 60.7%.2 This is higher than the overall labor force participation rate of US women, which is 56.1%.3 According to the most recent US Census Bureau estimates from 2021, women in Utah now make up 44.2%4 (slightly higher than 43.9% in 2015)5 of the state workforce, which is lower than the US women’s share of the national workforce, 47.4%6 (which remains the same from 2015).7

New to this update is the unique impact the global COVID-19 pandemic had on female employment nationally and in Utah. There was sharp decline in labor force participation for both US and Utah women in the first few months of 2020, but Utah women’s participation rate rapidly recovered as a whole. Interestingly, Utah women in older age groups (ages 35+), actually increased their labor force participation from January 2020 to December 2022, whereas women ages 16–34 decreased their rates of participation.8 National data suggest women have also increased their engagement in the post-pandemic workforce, with a newly released Penn Wharton brief reporting that the post-pandemic employment rate for women (ages 25-54) recovered faster than the rate for men, with women’s employment rates reaching a historical high of 75.3% in September 2023.9

Numerous factors influence Utah women’s participation in the labor force, such as access to affordable, quality childcare (see UWLP 2023 Childcare Snapshot), social/cultural factors, and occupational segregation in lower-paying industries.

This research snapshot focuses on three key areas:

  1. An overview of Utah women’s labor force participation and demographics,
  2. An exploration of the industries and occupations where Utah women are most likely to work, and
  3. A discussion of ways to increase Utah women’s success in the labor force.

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