Abstract

This chart shows that the ratio of women in the workforce in East Germany had risen steadily since 1949. In 1970, nearly half of all those gainfully employed were women.

Gainfully Employed Persons and Labor Force Participation Rate (1949–1970)

Source

Year	Gainfully Employed Persons				Labor Force Participation Rate		Unemployment Rate
	Total	Growth in Gainfully Employed	Ratio of Women	Total	Participation Rate of Women	Participation Rate of Men
	in 1,000	in %	in %	in %	in %	in %	in %
1949	7,678	.	.	41	.	.	.
1950	7,581	– 1.3	.	41	.	.	5.1
1951	7,739	+ 2.1	.	42	.	.	.
1952	7,814	+ 1.0	42	43	33	55	1.6
1953	7 930	+ 1.5	43	44	34	56	0.2
1954	8,108	+ 2.2	44	45	35	57	0.7
1955	8,187	+ 1.0	44	46	36	58	0.6
1956	8,133	– 0.7	44	46	37	58	0.5
1957	8,183	+ 0.6	44	47	37	59	0.3
1958	8,131	– 0.6	43	47	37	59	0.2
1959	8,121	– 0.1	44	47	38	58	0.1
1960	7,993	– 1.6	45	47	38	57	0.1
1961	7,939	– 0.7	46	46	39	56	.
1962	7,942	0.0	46	46	39	55	.
1963	7,945	0.0	46	46	39	55	.
1964	8,011	+ 0.8	46	47	40	56	.
1965	8,072	+ 0.8	47	47	41	55	.
1966	8,103	+ 0.4	47	47	41	55	.
1967	8,163	+ 0.7	47	48	41	55	.
1968	8,173	+ 0.1	47	48	42	55	.
1969	8,203	+ 0,4	48	48	43	55	.
1970	8,218	+ 0,2	48	48	43	54	.

Source: Ralf Rytlewski and Manfred Opp de Hipt, Die Deutsche Demokratische Republik in Zahlen. 1945/1949–1980. Munich: Beck, 1987. (Sozialgeschichtliches Arbeitsbuch. Bd. 5. ), pp. 65 f.

Translation: Thomas Dunlap

Recommended Citation

Gainfully Employed Persons and Labor Force Participation Rate (1949–1970), published in: German History in Documents and Images, <https://germanhistorydocs.org/en/occupation-and-the-emergence-of-two-states-1945-1961/ghdi:document-4540> [April 24, 2024].