As noted in the recently released report from Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress, “for the first time in our nation’s history, women are half of all U.S. workers.”  The changing makeup of the labor force has widespread implications across a broad spectrum of society, including the economy, the family, our communities, and our social, faith-based, and political institutions.

One important dynamic here is the specific impact of unmarried women in the labor force.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics annual averages for 2008:

• There are over 33 million unmarried women (18+) in the labor force.
• Unmarried women (18+) represent 22% of the total labor force in the United States.
• Almost 60% of all unmarried women (18+) are in the labor force.

While many unmarried women are educated, career-oriented professionals, many more do not have a college degree and are stuck in low-wage jobs.  Moreover, unmarried women make on average barely more than half of what a married man makes, and unmarried women with children earn less than women without kids.

The fact that almost 60 percent of all unmarried women now work creates specific challenges for public policy in terms of employment opportunities, education and career training, childcare, healthcare, and other issues.

In 2008, together with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, WVWV published a groundbreaking report on unmarried women’s unique needs and priorities and how public policy has yet to catch up to the new reality of unmarried women workers and heads of households.

This November, we will be releasing a follow-up report on the status of legislation and public policies that have a unique impact on the lives of unmarried women, assessing how far we have come on a public policy agenda that works for unmarried women.

Be sure to check back for the release of that report.