Work and Poverty

This section on work and poverty includes links to information about a variety of topics having to do with women's participation in the labor market, including the representation of women in the labor market, women in management, women entrepreneurs, career and compensation issues, work, and child care. This section also includes links to information about welfare and poverty, including topic related to women's absence from the labor market, and the lack of access to adequate economic resources.

Women's Participation in the Labor Market
Women in Management
Women Entrepreneurs
Careers/Compensation
Work and Child Care
Welfare and Poverty
Policy
Organizations for General Information

Most of the data in this section comes from very large governmental data sites, mainly the U.S Department of Labor and the U.S. Census. These sites are very complex, but contain a tremendous amount of useful data. They offer search functions to make the task of finding specific information easier. However, to fully utilize these resources, you will need to approach them with time, patience, and a willingness to learn their logic. Below is a very general introduction to these sites, how they are connected to each other, and what can make your search more efficient.

The U.S. Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Homepage http://www.dol.gov/ has a search button allowing you to search almost anything having to do with the DOL. There is also online help for conducting an effective search.

The DOL has several agencies (see http://www.dol.gov/dol/public/agencies/agency.htm for a list). Two of these are listed below:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Homepage http://stats.bls.gov/blshome.htm has a search button allowing you to search all sub-pages on this site, or specific sub-pages. There are also tips for conducting an effective search.
The BLS Data Page (http://www.bls.gov/datahome.htm) includes data reports, news releases, data sets, and an FTP site for more complicated data. There is a brief introduction and a help button for each type of information/data offered at this site.

The BLS is divided into several regions. Region V - Chicago (http://stats.bls.gov/ro5home.htm) covers Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana, and includes data reports, news releases, and data sets.
Women's Bureau (WB) Homepage http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/ A search button lets you search the whole WB site, or search more specific pages and files. Help on how to conduct an effective search is available.
The WB is also divided into several regions. Region V -- Chicago http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/htimage/dol/wb/public/info_about_wb/regions/regions.map?345,88 covers Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana. This page includes statistics on working women in Region V.

There is also a page for Illinois specifically at: http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/public/info_about_wb/regions/il.htm This page includes some employment statistics on women in Illinois, upcoming events/news updates, etc.

The U.S. Census Bureau

The Census Bureau homepage http://www.census.gov/ gives you several options. There is a user manual (http://www.census.gov/main/www/man_main.html) on how to use this site, a search button (http://www.census.gov/main/www/search.html), and a subject search index (http://www.census.gov/main/www/subjects.html). On-line help is available at every step, explaining how to start a search, how to search more effectively, and what tools are available to you.
The Current Population Survey (CPS) The CPCS (http://www.bls.census.gov/cps)
"The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This survey has been conducted for more than 50 years.

"Estimates obtained from the CPS include employment, unemployment, earnings, hours of work, and other indicators. They are available by a variety of demographic characteristics including age, sex, race, marital status, and educational attainment. They are also available by occupation, industry, and class of worker. Supplemental questions to produce estimates on a variety of topics including school enrollment, income, previous work experience, health, employee benefits, and work schedules are also often added to the regular CPS questionnaire."

The CPS home page includes a search button that allows you to search in different ways. These different search options are explained, and help is provided for each.

The Census pages are easy to use and fun. They use a lot of graphic images that make the site more user friendly, but also require a fast computer to handle these more complicated files.

Some Illinois-Specific Search Engines and Research Sites

In addition to the government sites, there are other public search engines available to look for data and/or reports. Some of these are cross-linked with government sites, which can make a search a little confusing. As with the government sites, you will need to spend some time getting to know these search engines before being able to quickly find what you are looking for.

Research Data Services - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville - http://www.rrds.siue.edu/home.html
"RRDS-SIUE is a research and public service unit at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Located in the College of Arts and Sciences, RRDS links the expertise and resources available at SIUE to the needs of local governments, profit and not-for- profit agencies. The overall mission of RRDS is to make university resources and expertise available to organizations seeking to improve the quality of life and economic vitality in communities and institutions in Illinois and the Bi-State St. Louis metropolitan area."
Illinois State Data Center Cooperative (ISDCC) - http://www.cagis.uic.edu/ISDC/ISDC_intro.html
"As the need for information at all levels of government and industry steadily increases, the scope and volume of information products that are developed also increases. The Illinois State Data Center Cooperative (ISDCC), in conjunction with the United States Bureau of the Census, is coordinating access to and use of these statistical resources for administration, planning, and decision making in the State of Illinois."
Business and Industry Data Center Network - http://www.cgs.niu.edu/default.htm
"The BIDC Network is designed to meet decision makers' growing need for effective use of economic statistics. This site provides information to a multitude of users: economic development, small business development, researchers, academics, local and state employees are just some of the groups who will find this site a useful tool in understanding information on a given geographical area."
Publications of the State of Illinois - http://www.library.sos.state.il.us/isl/depos/pubsofil.txt
Lists publications of the State of Illinois that have been provided to certain libraries in the State which are designated depository libraries. Copies of these publications are available at these depository libraries or by contacting the Illinois department producing the document.
The vast majority of research information included in these publications are not gender specific. However, some documents of interest focus on concerns of strong interest to Illinois women. We list a sample of these documents as follows:
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF.
- Affirmative action plan, fiscal year 1998. 1997.
- County labor force report, 1986-1995. 1996. 4p. I331.1109773 COUN OCLC# 32582031
- Illinois employment - industry summary, 1979-1996. 1997. 4p. I331.12 I29ES2 OCLC# 28688837
- Illinois monthly statistical summary. March, 1996-September, 1997. I331.112 ILLI 2 OCLC# 32263150
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, ILLINOIS.
- Annual report, 1996. 1997. 32p. I350.865 I29ar OCLC# 1784966
OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE, ILLINOIS.
- Occupational information, 1998. 1997. 481p. I331.702 HORI OCLC# 17318761
- Programs of study and training, 1998. 1997. 365p. I331.702 HORI2 OCLC# 26228138
- School information, 1998. 1997. 469p. I331.702 HORI3 OCLC# 26229094
PUBLIC AID, DEPARTMENT OF.
- A report on expenditures for the Title XX social services block grant -- fiscal year 1996. 1997. 50p. I361 STAT2b OCLC# 13712991
- Annual report, Medical Assistance Program, fiscal years 1994, 1995, 1996; Long Term Care, fiscal year 1996. 1997. 1 vol. I362.5 I29ma3 OCLC# 28233389
- Domestic violence services and prevention program annual report, 1996. 1997. 27p. I362.83 DOME2 OCLC# 32711957
- Report to the General Assembly on implementation of integrated health care Mediplan Plus. October, 1996. 5p. I362.10425 ILLI2 OCLC# 33317918
- Report to the General Assembly, child care programs, fiscal year 1996. 1997. 9p. I362.71 I29ccp OCLC# 32907391
- Welfare to work: annual report, 1996. 1997. 64p. I362.58 I29p5 OCLC# 30263129
PUBLIC AID, DEPARTMENT OF. INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
- Maintaining a safe workplace, best practices in violence prevention. 1997. 41p. I658.473 ILLI OCLC# 37591579
- Medicaid cost savings: commercial code review systems may prevent inappropriate and erroneous billings, final report. 1997. 34p. I362.104 ILLI 2 OCLC# 37591648

Women's Participation in the Labor Market

State of Illinois/ County/ City

Bureau of Labor Statistics Region V -- Chicago (home page) (see above introduction on how to use this site) http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/htimage/dol/wb/public/info_about_wb/regions/regions.map?338,97
Women's Bureau Region V -- Chicago (see above introduction on how to use this site) includes statistics on working women and upcoming events/news updates http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/public/info_about_wb/regions/il.htm
Government Information Sharing Project General Statistical Profile for Illinois (some gender data) includes housing, income, labor, and social data can search for city, town, or county http://govinfo.kerr.orst.edu/cgi-bin/buildit?1a-state.ils
Illinois Labor History Society Bibliography of Women's Labor History http://www.kentlaw.edu:80/ilhs/bibliogw.html

United States

Selections from the Current Population Survey (CPS) Publications page http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubtopic.htm
- Analytical research and data publications (some info on gender, not region) http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubanlys.htm
- Detailed Tables About People's Annual Work Experience includes info on gender, race/ethnicity http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubanwex.htm
- Employment Data links to several data sets with info on gender, age, ethnicity/race, and age, including: Employment status, Characteristics of the Employed, Union Affiliation Data, and Employee Absences Data, http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/171996/empearn/toc.htm
- Employment Characteristics of Families: 1996 (Rel. June 1997) http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/famee_0697.htm
- College Enrollment and Work Activity of 1995 High School Graduates http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/hsgec_1095.htm
- Non-Traditional and Contingent Workers includes info on gender, age, ethnicity/race, full-time/part-time status http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/conemp_0294.htm
- Participation in Union/Organized Labor includes info on gender, age, ethnicity/race, employment status http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubunion.htm
- Worker Displacement During the Early 1990's (Revised October 1996) includes info on gender, age, ethnicity/race http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/disp_0294.htm
- Employee Tenure in the Mid 1990's (Rel. January 1997) info on gender and age http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/tenure_0296.htm
- Women's Jobs 1964-1996: More Than 30 Years of Progress http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/public/jobs6496.htm
- 20 Leading Occupations for Women in 1997 Updated 2-26-98 http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/public/wb_pubs/20lead97.htm
- Nontraditional Occupations for Women in 1997 Updated 3-4-98 http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/public/wb_pubs/nontra97.htm

Women in Management

State of Illinois/ County/ City

United States

Women Entrepreneurs

State of Illinois/ County/ City

United States

Office of Small Business Programs (homepage) http://www.dol.gov/dol/osbp/
- Commission on the Future of Worker- Management Relations "Fact Finding Report" (May 1994) Executive Summary (not sure how much gender-related info is included in the report) http://gatekeeper.dol.gov/dol/osbp/public/pubs/execsumf.htm

Careers/Compensation

State of Illinois/ County/ City

Women's Bureau Region V-- Illinois: http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/public/info_about_wb/regions/il.htm Upcoming Events/News Updates, Working Women Count Honor Roll Organizations, Fair Pay Resources, and Displaced Homemakers Resources

United States

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration homepage http://www.dol.gov/dol/pwba/
- QDROs: The Division of Pensions through Qualified Domestic Relations Orders http://www.dol.gov/dol/pwba/public/pubs/qdro.htm
- Women and Pensions: What Women Need to Know and Do http://www.dol.gov/dol/pwba/public/pubs/women/women.htm
Employment and Training Administration (homepage) http://www.doleta.gov/
Women's Bureau Fair Pay Clearing House Fact sheets on women in the workplace http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/public/labor_data/main.htm
- Child Care Workers
- Hiring Someone to Work in your Home
- Outlook On Women Veterans
- Hot Jobs For The 21st Century
- 20 Leading Occupations for Women in 1996
- Nontraditional Occupations for Women in 1996
- Black Women in the Labor Force
- 20 Facts on Women Workers
- Women of Hispanic Origin in the Labor Force
- Earnings Differences Between Women and Men
- Women Who Maintain Families
Current Population Survey (http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/cpsmain.htm) Census Data on Employment and Earnings (http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubearn.htm)
- Employment and Earnings Characteristics of Families: Fourth Quarter 1993 some info by gender http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/famee_1293.htm
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers: Second Quarter 1996 earnings by ethnicity/race and gender http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/wkyeng_2q96.htm
- Employment and Earnings Data http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/171996/empearn/toc.htm links to several data sets with information on gender, age, ethnicity/race, and age, including:
  - Employment status
  - Characteristics of the Employed
  - Characteristics of the Unemployed
  - Persons Not in the Labor Force
  - Weekly Earnings Data
  - Union Affiliation Data
  - Employee Absences Data
- Detailed Tables on Health Insurance Coverage includes info on gender, age, ethnicity/race, education, etc. http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/031996/health/toc.htm
Women's Earnings as Percent of Men's, 1979 - 1997 http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/public/wb_pubs/7996.htm

Work and Child Care

State of Illinois/ County/ City

United States

What Works!: The Final Working Women Count Honor Roll Report Working Women Count: "A Report to the Nation" ** State Maternity/Family Leave Laws http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/honor.htm
Care Around the Clock: Developing Child Care Resources Before 9 and After 5: Directory of Non-Traditional Training and Employment Programs Serving Women http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb/public/media/reports/care.htm

Welfare/Poverty

The U.S. Census Poverty Page http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty.html will point you in a number of directions, including statistics, tables, general information, and a search tool to further specify your search interests.

State of Illinois/ County/ City

1990 Census data of income and poverty in Illinois http://www.rrds.siue.edu/profiles/income/il.txt stats on income and poverty (some info on gender)
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Region V (Chicago) http://stats.bls.gov/ro5news.htm note: the following data sets give information about employment and income in Illinois, Chicago, and other Illinois towns and cities. Although most of them do not provide gender-specific data, some of them provide information by occupational categories.
- BLS Region V-- Chicago: Employment and Unemployment regional, but no gender data ftp://146.142.4.23/pub/special.requests/chicago/fobgls.txt
- Part-Time Workers in the Great Lakes States employment rates for full-time and part-time employees includes info on gender ftp://146.142.4.23/pub/special.requests/chicago/ptwgls.txt
- Average Annual Pay Levels in Metropolitan Areas for the State of Illinois (annual) no gender data ftp://146.142.4.23/pub/special.requests/chicago/aapmetil.txt
- Occupational Compensation Surveys -- Chicago no gender specific data, but earnings averages for occupational categories ftp://146.142.4.23/pub/special.requests/chicago/wagechi.txt
- Occupational Compensation Surveys -- Decatur no gender specific data, but earnings averages for occupational categories ftp://146.142.4.23/pub/special.requests/chicago/wagedecr.txt
- Occupational Compensation Surveys -- Joliet no gender specific data, but earnings averages for occupational categories ftp://146.142.4.23/pub/special.requests/chicago/wagejoli.txt
- Occupational Compensation Surveys -- Peoria - Pekin no gender specific data, but earnings averages for occupational categories ftp://146.142.4.23/pub/special.requests/chicago/wagepeor.txt
State of Illinois List of Publications
http://www.library.sos.state.il.us/isl/depos/pubsofil.txt
Lists publications of the State of Illinois that have been provided to certain libraries in the State which are designated depository libraries. Copies of these publications are available at these depository libraries or by contacting the Illinois department producing the document.
The vast majority of research information included in these publications are not gender specific. However, the list of documents can be searched for the key word women and female and other keywords to find specific documents of interest that focus on Illinois population. For example, the documents include the following gender specific documents:
ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DEPARTMENT OF.
- Alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by women in the Illinois child welfare system. 1997. 28p. (DASA Needs Assessment Series Report 96-005) I362.29 ILLI 8 OCLC# 36702766
COMMERCE AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF.
- Business assistance directory for minority, women and disabled business owners. 1997. I658.11 BUSI OCLC# 34709728
- Guide to government and non-profit women's organizations. 1997. 47p. I338.7082 GUID 1997 OCLC# 37591530
United States
- Current Population Survey (CPS) Publications Homepage http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubtopic.htm
  - Poverty general page on poverty in the U.S. http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubpov.htm
  - Regional, state, and area trends (no gender data) http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubarea.htm
  - Analytical research and data publications (some info on gender, not region) http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubanlys.htm
  - Employment and Earnings Data http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/171996/empearn/toc.htm links to several data sets including info on gender, age, ethnicity/race, and age, including: Characteristics of the Unemployed, Persons Not in the Labor Force
  - Detailed Tables on Poverty for 1996 include info on gender, age, ethnicity/race, household relationship http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/031997/pov/toc.htm
  - Detailed Tables on Poverty for 1995 include info on gender, age, ethnicity/race, household relationship http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/031996/pov/toc.htm
  - Detailed Tables on Poverty for 1994 include info on gender, age, ethnicity/race, household relationship http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/031995/pov/toc.htm
  - Press Release on 1996 Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Estimates (Rel. September 1997) http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/031995/pov/toc.htm
  - Employment Characteristics of Families: 1996 (Rel. June 1997) http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/famee_0697.htm
  - College Enrollment and Work Activity of 1995 High School Graduates http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/hsgec_1095.htm
  - Detailed Tables on Family Income for 1994 - 1996 include info on gender, age, ethnicity/race, type of family, location, etc. http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/031997/faminc/toc.htm
  - Detailed Person Income Tables for 1994 - 1996 include info on gender, age, ethnicity/race http://ferret.bls.census.gov/macro/031997/perinc/toc.htm
  - Detailed Tables About People's Annual Work Experience includes info on gender, race/ethnicity http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/pubanwex.htm
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) http://stats.bls.gov/datahome.htm
  - Employment and Unemployment some info on gender http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm#OEUS
  - Employment Characteristics of Families: 1996 some info on gender http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/famee.toc.htm
Policy

Organizations for General Information

Date Last Updated: 8/13/98

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