The Top 11 Jobs Dominated By Women
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In This Article
Gender segregation is a norm in the labor market. Some sectors are solely dominated by men, while women dominate others. Here, we will take a look at the jobs dominated by women.
Women’s key role in society has ensured nations’ stability, progress, and development throughout history. For example, they worked as nurses, plane mechanics, ambulance and truck drivers, and shipbuilders to free up men for the fight during World War II. Fast forward to now, and women continue to flourish in every field imaginable.
Yet, while certain occupations have become more integrated, others remain overwhelmingly male or female-dominated. In this article, we’ll look at the 10 fields where women are in charge. These are referred to as “pink-collar fields” by economists, and while the pink-collar sector is booming, the earnings are stagnant. Continue reading to learn all about these fields and their challenges. Scroll down!
TriviaTop 11 Professions Dominated By Women
1. Education
Percentage of Women Employed: 76%
At present, women make up a larger share of educators than they have in decades. According to the U.S. Education Department data, the current trends in the teaching profession in the U.S. show that the field is 76% female (1).
We must keep in mind that this category is extensive and includes preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school. The average base salary for a teacher these days is $55,100 per year (2).
2. Child Care
Percentage of Women Employed: 94%
Child care workers typically work in daycare or other child care centers to attend to the basic needs of children, such as dressing, bathing, feeding, and overseeing play. They may also help children with school prep and homework.
The percentage of female workforce in this field is a whopping 94%. The median pay of a child care worker stands at $23,240 per year (3).
3. Human Resources
Percentage of Women Employed: 72%
Human resources is another field where an overwhelming majority of workers are women. In 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that 72% of HR managers were women (4). In 2017, that number increased to 86%.
Despite their prominence in the field, women are still paid less, and male HR managers take home 23% more than their female coworkers.
Trivia4. Veterinary Practice
Percentage of Women Employed: 55%
There is an extraordinary change in veterinary medicine with more women stepping in to fill this role. Since pet parents want more for their children than just basic vaccinations and flea control, the demand for vets and those who work with pets in a medical environment has increased drastically.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the current ratio stands at 55% female/45% male in the veterinary market, in both private and public sectors (5). But, here’s the catch: according to the AVMA starting salary calculator, female veterinarians have historically been paid $2,406.97 less than their male counterparts (6).
5. Social Services
Percentage of Women Employed: 82%
When we talk about social workers, about 82% of them are female. Women constitute 81.6% of social workers, 69.9% of counselors, and 82.4% of social and human service assistants (7).
However, it is important to note that social work focuses on more than just day-to-day patient assessment. This field is committed to social justice and is comprised of community developers, advocates, and human rights activists as well.
6. Accountancy
Percentage of Women Employed: 60%
While traditionally seen as a male-dominated profession, accounting has transformed over the years to become more equal. But, this is hardly a new trend. In fact, it goes back to 1983 when women began to gain ground in the profession, a classic example of women’s empowerment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women made up 39% of the accountants in the U.S. workforce in 1983. By 2012, 60% of accountants were women. However, even today, women are vastly underrepresented in upper-level management, leadership, partnership, and committee positions (8).
7. Nursing
Percentage of Women Employed: 92.3%
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 92.3% of registered nurses are female. Nursing has held its value and status as one of the most female-dominated professions out there. This role includes caring for patients, treating them under the supervision of physicians, and advising patients in aftercare.
However, guess who gets paid more in this industry? You guessed it. In nursing, it still pays more to be a man. Male nurses make an average of $84,000 annually, and female nurses make about $80,000 (7).
8. Leisure And Hospitality
Percentage of Women Employed: 55%
According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hospitality labor workforce in the United States is 55% female (7). While more than half of the hospitality workforce is comprised of women, few have risen to the management level. Women make up only 23% of senior management positions in this industry. (9).
9. Pharmaceutical And Medicine Manufacturing
Percentage of Women Employed: 54.6%
Less than two decades ago, fewer than 40% of pharmacists were women. As of 2016, that number has gone up to a solid 54.6%, and more than half of all pharmacists in the U.S. are female. The typical pharmacist makes about $121,000.
It is interesting to note that this occupation’s gender pay gap is nearly non-existent. Female pharmacists take home about 97% of what their male counterparts earn (10).
10. Public Relations
Percentage of Women Employed: 63%
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women account for 63% of public relations specialist roles and 59% of PR management positions. While women dominate almost every level of PR, the executive level seems hardly touched by females.
The Organization of American Women in Public Relations came out with a report showing that although women represent two-thirds of the global PR industry, 78% of the CEOs in the top 30 PR agencies worldwide are men, and they also occupy about 62% of seats in the PR boardroom (11).
11. Medical Asssitants
As per the findings of the U.S. Census Bureau, 89.2% of registered medical assistants are female. Women medical assistants form a core part of the medical faculty. They work in a variety of healthcare settings and play a significant role in patient care. They are responsible for both clinical and administrative duties that ensure a hassle-free operation of healthcare services.
However, some gender pay gap differences still prevail at different work levels. On average, a male medical assistant earns an annual salary of $35,100, on the other hand, a female medical assistant earns around $34,378 (7).
Infographic: Top Female-Dominated Jobs
Women have conquered the world. They are doing exceptionally well in every field, be it science, math, hospitality, or whatnot. Nothing can stop women from growing more and leading the entire generation toward excellence. Many fields today are female-dominated and boast high success rates. With more women in STEM and medical sciences than ever, women are proving themselves everywhere. Check out the infographic below to find out the most female-dominated industries.
Illustration: The Bridal Box Design Team
In this modern world, many occupations are seeing almost equal representation from both women and men. However, certain fields are dominated by women, like education, child care, human resources, nursing, social services, and pharma. These professions have a largely female workforce. These figures are as high as 94% in child care services and 92% in child care services. On the other hand, the gender wage gap persists, with women being paid 20% less than their male counterparts across the board. Therefore, systemic change is the only way to right these wrongs. Diversity and inclusion should be applied in practice rather than preached. Feminism should be viewed as a positive driving change rather than the flip side of the patriarchal society. If we look closely at women’s history, there’s a lot to learn. Women’s right to vote provided a gateway to explore, debate, and develop ideas that put gender equality, women’s health, and women’s education at the forefront. These ideas were put into action and now we live in a world guided by women’s leadership, not just men’s. We still have a long way to go before we achieve gender equality, but for now, this is enough to drive women to be ambitious about their dreams and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percent of CEOs are female?
Of all the Fortune 500 companies, only 15% of CEOs are women. We don’t see a high percentage of women in politics or women in business due to the gender pay gap, discrimination, sexual harassment, and structural foundations in place that follow the age-old patriarchal system.
What industries need more women?
Male-dominated industries are IT & software, piloting, construction, finance, engineering, architecture, electric and plumbing, groundskeeping, and automotive need more women to balance the gender equality gap.
What percent of the labor force is female?
Over the years, the number of women in the workplace has fluctuated. But recently, the female labor force amounted to 57.4%. The highest female labor force percentage was in 1999 when it reached 60%.
Why are there fewer female managers?
Stereotypical gender-discriminatory factors lead to women having fewer management opportunities than men. For example, while a man may get a leadership position because he is a father, a woman would be passed over for being a mom.
Which country has the lowest female employment rate?
Yemen has the lowest female employment rate, reaching 6% in 2021.
Key Takeaways
- Women make up 94% of the workforce in the childcare services industry in the US.
- Women take up to nine out of every ten jobs in the nursing sector and yet make $80,000 annually to a man’s $84,000 at the same job.
- Women represent 2/3rd of the public services sector.
- However, the average annual earnings of women remain about 20% below men’s.
Illustration: The Top 11 Jobs Dominated By Women
Image: Stable Diffusion/The Bridal Box Design Team
Are you curious about the differences between male and female dominated jobs? Watch this video to uncover the fascinating dynamics of both scenarios!
References
Articles on thebridalbox are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.
- “Teacher trends” Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics.
- “The Nation’s Teaching Force Is Still Mostly White and Female” Education Week.
- “Childcare Workers” Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor.
- “Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex” Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor.
- “The History of Women in Veterinary Medicine in the U.S.” Today’s Veterinary Practice.
- “Yes, female veterinarians earn less, BUT …” DVM360.
- “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey” Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor.
- “Gender Roles in Public Accounting and the Absence of Women in Upper Level Management” University of New Hampshire.
- “TMT Gender Diversity in the Hospitality Industry: Insights Regarding Performance Implications”, BU School of Hospitality Administration.
- “Pharmacy and the Evolution of a Family-Friendly Occupation” National Bureau of Economic Research.
- “Achieving gender parity in public relations” USC University of Southern California.
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