Table 22. Work experience of the population by sex and full- and part-time status, selected years, 1970–2008

(Percent distribution)

Year

Total

Total, both sexes 

1970...................... 138,953 93,850 67.5 100.0 79.4 55.6 23.8 20.6 6.7 13.9 

1975...................... 153,180 102,603 67.0 100.0 78.9 54.3 24.6 21.2 7.5 13.7 

1980...................... 169,452 115,752 68.3 100.0 78.5 56.1 22.4 21.4 7.7 13.7 

1985...................... 179,944 123,466 68.6 100.0 78.2 58.7 19.5 21.9 8.3 13.6 

1990 ..................... 189,238 132,562 70.1 100.0 78.8 60.4 18.4 21.3 8.7 12.6 

1995...................... 199,925 138,971 69.5 100.0 78.6 62.9 15.7 21.3 9.1 12.2 

2000 ..................... 214,292 150,787 70.4 100.0 80.4 66.7 13.7 19.5 9.3 10.2 

2005........................ 227,975 154,322 67.7 100.0 80.3 67.5 12.8 19.7 10.0 9.7 

2006........................ 231,033 156,658 67.8 100.0 80.9 68.4 12.5 19.1 9.7 9.4 

2007........................ 232,995 157,653 67.7 100.0 80.9 68.4 12.5 19.1 9.8 9.3 

2008........................ 235,086 157,472 67.0 100.0 79.5 65.6 13.9 20.5 10.5 10.0 

Women

1970...................... 73,657 38,809 52.7 100.0 67.9 40.7 27.2 32.2 10.1 22.1 

1975...................... 80,834 43,511 53.8 100.0 67.1 41.4 25.7 32.8 11.7 21.1 

1980...................... 89,259 51,492 57.7 100.0 67.7 44.7 23.0 32.3 11.9 20.4 

1985...................... 94,490 56,165 59.4 100.0 68.1 48.9 19.2 31.8 12.3 19.5 

1990 ..................... 98,970 61,494 62.1 100.0 69.8 51.5 18.3 30.2 12.8 17.4 

Total 50 to 52

weeks

1 to 49

weeks Total 50 to 52

weeks

1 to 49

weeks

Population 

(in 

thousands)

With work experience Percent distribution by work experience

Total 

(in 

thousands)

Percent of 

population

Usually work full time Usually work part time

1990 ..................... 98,970 61,494 62.1 100.0 69.8 51.5 18.3 30.2 12.8 17.4 

1995...................... 104,058 65,304 62.8 100.0 70.2 54.3 15.9 29.7 13.3 16.4 

2000 ..................... 111,440 71,341 64.0 100.0 72.9 58.4 14.5 27.1 13.4 13.7 

2005........................ 117,814 72,309 61.4 100.0 72.7 59.9 12.8 27.3 14.1 13.2 

2006........................ 119,300 73,527 61.6 100.0 73.0 60.7 12.3 27.0 14.1 12.9 

2007........................ 120,300 74,115 61.6 100.0 73.6 61.5 12.1 26.4 14.2 12.2 

2008........................ 121,328 74,363 61.3 100.0 72.2 59.3 12.9 27.8 15.0 12.8 

Men

1970...................... 65,296 55,041 84.3 100.0 87.6 66.1 21.5 12.4 4.4 8.0 

1975...................... 72,346 59,091 81.7 100.0 87.5 63.8 23.7 12.5 4.4 8.1 

1980...................... 80,193 64,260 80.1 100.0 87.2 65.2 22.0 12.8 4.4 8.4 

1985...................... 85,454 67,301 78.8 100.0 86.5 66.8 19.7 13.5 4.8 8.7 

1990 ..................... 90,269 71,068 78.7 100.0 86.4 68.0 18.4 13.5 5.1 8.4 

1995...................... 95,867 73,667 76.8 100.0 86.2 70.6 15.6 13.9 5.5 8.4 

2000 ..................... 102,853 79,446 77.2 100.0 87.5 74.2 13.3 12.6 5.5 7.1 

2005........................ 110,161 82,013 74.4 100.0 87.0 74.2 12.8 13.0 6.3 6.7 

2006........................ 111,733 83,131 74.4 100.0 87.8 75.2 12.6 12.2 5.7 6.5 

2007........................ 112,695 83,538 74.1 100.0 87.4 74.6 12.8 12.6 5.9 6.7 

2008........................ 113,758 83,109 73.1 100.0 86.0 71.2 14.8 14.0 6.5 7.5 

NOTE: These data, collected in the Annual Social and Economic Supplement, reflect the work experience of the entire year.

SOURCE: Annual Social and Economic Supplements, 1971–2009, Current Population Survey, U.S. Department of Labor, 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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