Women's Education Is Beginning To Pay Off

Philadelphia (CBS) - Women are taking a new place in American society. More women finish high school and at almost every level of higher education women outnumber men, with three women attending college and graduate school for every two men. Most law school students are women as are almost half of all medical students according to The Washington Post.

With so many women in higher education, more are entering professional managerial careers and these gains have come during the worst recession in decades with the downturn being particularly harsh for men.

Women's income is rising higher than men's.

The full time workforce, nevertheless, is predominantly male—56 million men and 42 million women. Only a small portion of either sex has passed the $100,000 benchmark. Approximately 7.9 million men and 2.4 million women earn at that level.

The US Labor Department reports leading occupations for women are secretaries and administrative assistants, nurses, elementary and middle school teachers, cashiers, and home health aides in that order. Despite more education, with women a large part of the labor force, only 14 Fortune 500 companies have women CEOs.

Reported By Dr. Marciene Mattleman, KYW Newsradio