The Changing Workforce

Demographic Issues Facing Employers Gao ID: T-GGD-92-61 July 29, 1992

The civilian labor force has changed dramatically in recent decades and is expected to change even more in the future. The most striking demographic change has been the wholesale entry of women into the workforce, particularly married women with children. Two other major demographic trends are the growing numbers of racial and ethnic minorities in the workforce and the greying of the labor force, driven largely by the aging of the baby boomers. In response, more and more employers are offering (1) child care, flexible work schedules, and other benefits to help employees balance work and family responsibilities; (2) diversity training; and (3) phased retirement or other strategies to utilize the skills of retirees. This testimony focuses on a series of recent GAO reports describing these changes to the workforce and programs developed by employers--including the federal government--in response to these changes.



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