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