- More than 146 million Americans age 16 and over are in the nation’s labor force. That includes more than 78 million men and more than 68 million women.
- The annual median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers in 2001: $38,275 and $29,215 respectively.
- Average annual pay in the San Jose metropolitan statistical area: $65,926. San Jose has led all metro areas in this category since 1997.
- More than 16 million workers across the country belong to a labor union. That amounts to 14 percent of all wage and salary workers. The rate, of course, varies a lot by state — New York having the highest rate at 27 percent; North Carolina having the lowest rate at 4 percent.
- Growth this decade in the number of people employed as computer applications software engineers: 100%. Forecasters expect this occupation to grow at a faster rate than any other.
- Projected increase in the number of combined food preparation and serving (e.g., fast food) workers during this decade: 673,000. This occupation is expected to add more positions than any other.
U.S. Bureau of the Census