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Center for Rural Pa. Offers Profile of Rural Women

Dr. Diane S. Shinberg of Indiana University of Pennsylvania used data from the 2005-09 and 2014-18 American Community Survey (ACS) to create a profile of rural Pennsylvania women.

Here are some key findings:

• Older rural women tended to live alone more so than their younger rural peers. However, from 2005-09 to 2014-18, fewer older rural women lived alone. Rates of living alone were lower in rural versus urban locations.

• Overall, rural women were more likely to be married than urban women and rural and urban men. However, from 2005-09 to 2014-18, young and middle-aged rural women were less likely to be married.

• Rural women had less access to communication technologies than urban women. Access decreased with age among rural women.

• The most common level of educational attainment among rural women was high school: 42 percent of young rural women, 46 percent of middle-aged rural women, and 56 percent of older rural women completed no more than high school. From 2005-09 to 2014-18, completion of college increased across all age and population groups. Completed schooling was higher among urban women than rural women, and lower for rural men than rural women.

• Most young and middle-aged rural women participated in the labor force and were currently employed. Nevertheless, for all age groups, rural women had the lowest labor force participation rates compared to rural men and urban women and men.

• Four of the top 10 occupations held by rural and urban women were at high risk of being eliminated due to automation.

 

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