New data from the Census Bureau has found that women own one-third of all U.S. businesses, employing 26 percent of the nation's work force. Sales from the 7.95 million women-owned businesses jumped 236 percent since 1987, and employment in those businesses rose to 18.5 million workers from only 6.6 million in 1987. According to the National Foundation for Women Business Owners, the number of women-owned companies increased 78 percent in the last nine years while growth among U.S. firms was only 47 percent. The state with the largest number of women-owned businesses was California, and Nevada had the fastest rate of growth. Although the largest share of women-owned companies was in the service sector, growth was "explosive" in nontraditional industries such as construction.
A Washington Post article earlier this month indicated that in the greater Washington, D.C. area, women-owned businesses accounted for 39 percent of businesses in the region in 1992. Specialists attribute the higher numbers to the presence of the federal government and credit affirmative action programs for the overall increasing numbers.
Media Resources: The Nando Net and the Associate Press - March 28, 1996
5/22/2013 Immigration Reform Bill Advances In Senate - Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a sweeping immigration reform bill in a bipartisan vote of 13 to 5. . . .
5/22/2013 Afghan Women Arrested for 'Moral Crimes' Increases 50% - A new report by the Human Rights Watch shows that in the past 18 months the number of women in Afghanistan incarcerated for 'moral crimes' has increased from 400 to 600, a 50% growth.
Many of the women imprisoned for moral crimes were arrested running away from forced or abusive marriages and families, even though there is no law against leaving. . . .
5/22/2013 Army Commander Suspended for Adultery Amid Wave of Sexual Assaults - On Tuesday, Brigadier General Bryan T Roberts was suspended from his position as commander of the Fort Jackson, South Carolina training camp which trains approximately 60% of incoming female recruits pending an investigation into allegations of adultery.
Roberts was suspended following allegations of "adultery and a physical altercation." Colonel Christian Kubik, an Army spokesperson for the Training and Doctrine Command, told reporters "We don't have any evidence of any sexual assault. . . .
