Women currently represent 46.5% of the entire U.S. workforce, with 59.5% of women aged between 25 and 64 actually in the labor force. Data released in February by the Department of Labor Statistics showed that as of January 2010, women held 720,000 more non-farm payroll jobs than men. They also surpassed the number of men on the payroll during four months of 2009.
A Wall Street Journal article recently reported that during this economic downturn it was better to be a working woman than a working man. This claim, while partly supported by the fact that more women were employed in the teaching, government, and health care industries, (which held up better in this recession), was also supported by a 2007 Department of Education report. This report stated that for each type of college degree, the number of degrees earned by females has grown faster and has outpaced males since 1996. In 2007, females earned 62% of the associate's, 56% of the bachelor's and 57% of the master's degrees.
According to the Department of Labor, the female work force has gone from 11% with degrees in 1970 to 36% with degrees in 2008. The impact this has had is evident in the fact that in 2008 women accounted for 51% of all persons employed in management, professional, and related occupations, which is significantly more than their 46.5% share of total employment.
Women's earnings compared to men's earnings have also seen a similar increase but inequities still exist. In 1979, women earned 62% of what men did and in 2008, this increased to 80% of what men earned. In 2008, specifically in retailing, the Department of Labor reported that women earned 75.7% of what men earned.
Translating this to the retail Loss Prevention industry is rather difficult and is subject to interpretation. However, according to the 2008 National Retail Security Survey, women comprised 18.8% of the LP population. This compares to the public law enforcement community of 883,600 officers where women represent 12.7% and the American Society of Industrial Security with over 37,000 members, of which female membership totals 10%.
While the retail Loss Prevention industry is rightfully concerned with increasing the proportion of females in the business, it is important to note that we are doing a better job than our counterparts. And, as many have written, this industry is one that most people fall into or are born into. Most of us will admit that it's not the glamorous high powered job that most young girls, (or boys for that matter), dream of. With that in mind, it's a fact that we will continue to struggle to attract women into our industry. The truth is that our most effective recruiting tools are the successful women working in this industry today.
As it relates to earnings, our database of over 26,000 Loss Prevention executives does not show any disparity at all between women and men. On the contrary, over the last five to ten years retailers have focused on increasing diversity and this market pressure has in actuality increased earnings for all groups and has ensured equality. Now certainly the wage gap still exists in some operations but it is the exception and not the rule in this industry.
From an educational standpoint, our information shows that 11.4% of women have degrees while 11.6% of men have degrees.a virtual tie. Certainly, this is a statistic of concern for both groups from an industry prospective, but it is equality none the less. Given the trend since 1996, with women increasingly obtaining degrees, this result is another accomplishment and equality in this regard has been reached.
Representation at the senior leadership level of retail Loss Prevention for women is a growth opportunity. The fact that only 9% of the nation's top 100 retailers are led by women certainly doesn't reflect the industry's female population level of 18.8%. However, as an observer of this industry for a long time, I've noted in recent years, a significant increase in the number of women that have risen to key positions of leadership. This is despite all of the variables, biases and concerns faced by these women on their trek up the ladder.
Over the last ten years women have made significant strides in achieving equality in the work force and in many cases they've outperformed their male counterparts. During the period of 1997 to 2006, women owned businesses grew at twice the rate of all U.S. firms and now account for two in five of all businesses in the country. In the retail Loss Prevention industry, women have reached educational and wage parity and they lead in percent of population compared to their private and public sector counterparts. These accomplishments are significant and they show that women in the retail Loss Prevention industry are truly leading the way.
