As Labor Day approaches, Independent Women has issued a statement highlighting recent economic trends and their impact on women in the workforce.
Patrice Onwuka, director of the Center for Economic Opportunity at Independent Women, commented on wage growth and cost-of-living changes. “This Labor Day, paychecks are going farther than they have in years for American workers. Real wages are up 1.3% over last year and have risen each month since President Trump took office. Meanwhile, gas prices are at a five-year low, and housing inflation is at its lowest level since October 2021.”
Onwuka also addressed women’s employment rates and participation in flexible work arrangements. “As we focus on how women are doing in the workforce, there is much to celebrate. Women’s unemployment rate is 4.3%, below the national rate and the rate from this time last year. Women’s unemployment is cyclical as they move in and out of the workforce to address their family’s needs. Encouragingly, millions of women are balancing work with caregiving for kids in school, aging parents, or their own health issues through flexible work such as self-employment, freelancing, and the gig economy.”
She credited recent policy efforts for supporting these opportunities: “We applaud the Trump administration and conservatives in Congress for working to protect self-employment and freelancing in America. This is a welcome change from the past four years of anti-woman and anti-worker crackdowns on flexible work.”
Independent Women stated that it continues to support policies aimed at preserving opportunity and well-being.
