Council on Women

The Tennessee Economic Council on Women has released its 2012 report on the status of women across the State of Tennessee and in all of the 95 Counties in the State independently. Overall, the population of women in Jefferson County is faring better than they were a dozen years ago. The 2000 report listed Jefferson County as 50^th in County composite ranking in areas that include employment, economic indicators and quality of life. The recently released 2012 report shows Jefferson County improving to 31^st in overall composite score. The median full time employment wages for females in the County is $29,443 and women in Jefferson County posted strong numbers in managerial positions. Both areas show significant improvement from the 2000 report, with the number of female managerial positions growing by more than 12% and out distancing State growth in that area by 2%. Though general female workforce participation has grown in the last dozen years, the growth measured in Jefferson County is not as significant as that in other Counties, largely due to overall County economic stagnation. Though female managerial positions are strong in the County, few women are business owners. While more women have open businesses in 2012 than in 2000, the growth trend is significantly behind the State. Only around 20% of the businesses in Jefferson County are owned by women and even when considering those that partner with men the number only rises to 39.3%. The poverty level in Jefferson County exceeds the statewide standards and the chances of single mothers in Jefferson County living in poverty are almost five times the chances as was recognized in the 2000 report. According to the most recent report, single mothers in the County make up almost 22% of all families that have children under the age of 18. Access to healthcare is also an issue for Jefferson County females, largely due to an increase in uninsured females in the County. Despite making modest gains, Jefferson County has slipped in overall academic rankings in the last 12 years. Though the number of Jefferson County women that hold 4 year degrees increased by 2.7%, that increase did not keep up with the upward trend in many Counties across the State. Female residents that hold a high school diploma also increased in the County but did not keep pace and dropped the ranking in that particular area 11 places. Jefferson County placed 63^rd out of 95 Counties in regard to female high school drop out rates for the 2011-2012 school year. The 2012 report indicates that working females in Jefferson County are making strides in overall salary growth and comparative salary growth, while lagging behind in academic and economic growth for those that are below poverty level. The Tennessee Economic Council on Women was established in 1998 by the Tennessee General Assembly and reports periodically on the economic status of women across the State of Tennessee.