There's no denying that the job market is shifting and women are entering the workforce in droves. In fact, 24/7 Wall Street compared U.S. Census data from 2000 to 2016 on employment composition by gender in over 300 occupations and found that, in some specific fields, female workers have increased by 20 percentage points. In total, as of 2016, 43.1 percent of all U.S. workers were female, compared to 40.5 percent in 2000.
While the gender gap nonetheless persists, this list is a reflection of the headway women in the workplace have made thus far. In fact, half of the jobs on this list are high-paying and, for many, the median earnings for women are higher than the median earnings for all workers ($45,860).
If you're looking for a job or thinking about making a career change, consider one of these careers where women are being welcomed and climbing on up. More than half of all workers in the following 20 jobs are women.
In 2000, women represented 58.9 percent of public relations specialists. In 2016, they represented 65.3 percent.
In 2000, women represented 56.4 percent of office machine operators. In 2016, they represented 62.9 percent.
In 2000, women represented 62.7 percent of social and community service managers. In 2016, they represented 69.32.9 percent.
In 2000, women represented 50.6 percent of production, planning and expediting clerks. In 2016, they represented 57.3 percent.
In 2000, women represented 44 percent of parking enforcement officers. In 2016, they represented 50.8 percent.
In 2000, women represented 51.4 percent of technical writers. In 2016, they represented 58.2 percent.
In 2000, women represented 45.8 percent of lodging managers. In 2016, they represented 52.7 percent.
In 2000, women represented 45.1 percent of compliance officers. In 2016, they represented 52.6 percent.
In 2000, women represented 63.7 percent of nonfarm animal caretakers. In 2016, they represented 71.4 percent.
In 2000, women represented 74.7 percent of fabric and apparel patternmakers. In 2016, they represented 82.6 percent. This is the most heavily female-dominated field on this list.
In 2000, women represented 46.4 percent of writers and authors. In 2016, they represented 56.6 percent.
In 2000, women represented 60.7 percent of opticians. In 2016, they represented 71 percent.
In 2000, women represented 54.7 percent of first-line supervisors of personal service workers. In 2016, they represented 65.4 percent.
In 2000, women represented 43 percent of bakers. In 2016, they represented 54 percent.
Women now make up more than half of animal trainers. In 2000, women represented 40.6 percent of animal trainers. In 2016, they represented 51.8 percent.
In 2000, women represented 53 percent of graders and sorters. In 2016, they represented 55 percent.
Women make up more than two-thirds of public relations and fundraising managers today. In 2000, women represented 54.7 percent. In 2016, they represented 67.3 percent.
In 2000, women represented 39.1 percent of pharmacists. In 2016, they represented 54.6 percent.
In 2000, women represented 30.3 percent of natural science managers. In 2016, they represented 52.8 percent. That's a 22.5 percentage point increase.
The number of female vets more than doubled with a 24 percentage point increase since 2000. In 2000, women represented 30 percent of verternarians. In 2016, they represented 59.1 percent.
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AnnaMarie Houlis is a multimedia journalist and an adventure aficionado with a keen cultural curiosity and an affinity for solo travel. She's an editor by day and a travel blogger at HerReport.org by night.
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