1 Shinae Chun Director Contact: Work-Life Balance in the United States Presentation for the International Symposium on Measures for Society with Decreasing Birthrate Japan October 1-4, 2008 U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau

2 Women as a Percent of the Total U.S. Labor Force, Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

3 Women’s Labor Force Participation Rates, (Percent) Women Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

4 Labor Force Participation of Women with Children Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

5 Number Of Women Employed Full-Time And Part-Time In The United States: (Thousands of people) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

American Time Use Survey Household ActivitiesWomen Men Housework, for example, cleaning and laundry 52% 20% Food preparation or cleanup 64% 37% Childcare per day in households with youngest child under age hrs. 5.5 hrs. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

7 Generation X – 51 million First generation where large numbers of mothers entered the workforce. Embrace technology Want workplace flexibility Generation Y – 76 million The Internet Generation Most high-performing, high-maintenance workforce Want marriage and family and lots of workplace flexibility

8 Listening Sessions for Generation X Women Women’s Bureau funded Question: What do you want/need most between now and 2020? “Flexibility is our most important issue.”

9 Percentage of Full-Time Workers with Flexible Schedules, 2004 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

10 WB Flex-Options Program Flextime Compressed Workweeks Part-Time Job Sharing Telecommuting Informal and Ad Hoc Flexibility Flex-Options Recruitment Retention Productivity Performance Morale Commitment Job Satisfaction Attendance Enhance and Improve

11 Flex-Options Project Goal To encourage business owners to develop workplace flexibility policies and procedures, such as telecommuting, job sharing, and compressed work-weeks. Corporate executives and workplace flexibility experts establish one-on- one mentoring relationships with business owners to teach them how to develop flexible work policies. Women Entrepreneurs Inc. manages Web site Best practices are shared online and via teleconference calls featuring experienced professionals and leaders in the flexible workplace field.

12 Businesses Reap Bottom Line Benefits

13 Challenges and Opportunity Meet Gas prices are escalating Expectations of Gen Xers and Yers Traffic congestion Elder and child care needs Health and wellness priorities

14 WB Flex in the City Flex in the City, Houston, Texas May 13, 2008 The WB and the City of Houston Mayor’s Office hosted a conference. Flex in the City, Atlanta, Georgia Launched April 2008 The WB, City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office, and Governor’s Clean Air Campaign are hosting the Atlanta Flex-Options Initiative.

15 Employer Recognition Programs Working Mother Magazine’s 10 Best Employers for Working Mothers 1. Baptist Health South Florida 2. Booz Allen Hamilton 3. Ernst & Young 4. General Mills 5. IBM 6. KPMG 7. The McGraw-Hill Companies 8. PricewaterhouseCoopers 9. UBS 10.Wachovia