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Challenges Faced by Women of the Workforce in New York State

Women comprise half of all US workers and well over half of all women are in the labor force. Today “women are poised to be the engine of the country’s future economic growth.” However, though much has been accomplished over the past 25 years, many challenges remain to women’s success in the workplace: a continuing earnings gap, gender segregated industries, juggling of work and home responsibilities, persistent employment barriers (child care, transportation, language), deterrents to women’s leadership and persistent discrimination.

The Workforce Development Institute’s Women of the Workforce (WOW) Initiative is developing strategies for addressing these and other challenges faced by women in today’s workforce. Women from across NYS representing organized labor, government, business, community based organizations, female veterans, immigrants and refugees, and the education community met to help WDI determine the focus of planned regional events to address these issues.



Public forums are currently being scheduled.

In the Capital Region:

WDI Women of the Workforce (WOW) Initiative welcomed Dr. Mildred Warner, Professor at the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University, to the Capital District's SEFCU Corporate Headquarters Dora Maxwell Center on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. Dr. Warner led a discussion focused on the link between the child care sector and regional economic development.  Her power point presentation follows..

WOW Warner PPT 2012

  1. Challenges Women with Disabilities Face in the Workforce: Overcoming Barriers; Sharing Abilities.
    Click here for Event Summary
  2. Challenges Facing Women in the Workforce: Finding Affordable, Accessible, High Quality Child Care and the Link to Economic and Workforce Development
    Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany
  3. Making the Law Work for Women of the Workforce
    Tuesday,  January 31, 2012 at the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center, 145 Congress St, Troy, NY
In Central New York
  1. Empowering Women: Skills Necessary for a Successful Job Search
    September 30, 2011 from 4:00pm -8:00pm and October 1, 2011 from 10:00am - 3:00pm
In the Hudson Valley:
  1. Women's Leadership: Empowering and Supporting Women
    December 3, 2011
In New York City:
  1. NYC Working Women's Conference
    Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 8:30am to 1:00pm at Cornell University
In the Mohawk Valley:
  1. Filling the Gap: Programming for Female Veterans
Discussions are being scheduled in Western New York, the North Country, Rochester and Long Island to develop programming.

For more information on any of the above events, please contact Susan Hains at 518-272-3500

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