"During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the countless women whose courage and resolve have contributed to the character and success of our Nation and the entire world. The equal opportunity of women in every facet of daily life is an essential feature of a free and prosperous society. This month, we honor women who have fought for equality and against the status quo, and who have broken the bonds of discrimination, partiality, and injustice for the benefit of all." Read the full proclamation here. 

On Monday, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump and the Women's Bureau (WB) hosted a roundtable discussion at the White House on improving access to high-quality, affordable child care for families. This event builds on our nationwide listening sessions to identify innovative solutions to the challenges families face when working, going to school, and learning new job skills. The White House Council of Economic Advisers also released a new report on Monday on the subject: Work and the Cost of Child Care.

On February 13, WB Director Patricia Greene attended the Military Transition Research Summit in Los Angeles. Organized by the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families at the University of Southern California, this year's theme focused on military families in transition. Dr. Greene was invited to share some of the U.S. Department of Labor’s latest work to increase employment opportunities for military spouses, including the recent publication of an interactive map illustrating occupational licensing recognition across state lines for military spouses.

On February 7, WB and Employment and Training Administration (ETA) representatives visited S & B Engineers and Constructors’ apprenticeship program for women pipefitters in Baytown, Texas. S & B is a recipient Texas Workforce Commission grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, to increase employment opportunities for women in apprenticeships.

In December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released Women in the Labor Force: A Databook. The report presents historical and recent labor force and earnings data for women and men from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a national monthly survey of approximately 60,000 households conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for BLS. Click here for more.

In 2018, there were an estimated 12.3 million women-owned firms, accounting for 40% of all businesses. The National Women’s Business Council’s (NWBC) 2018 Annual Report commemorates the NWBC's 30th anniversary and provides the findings, conclusions, and policy recommendations that will foster the continued economic growth for women-owned small businesses. Read the report here.