Health Care Key Among Women's Economic Worries

An overwhelming majority of the 22,000 women who answered the AFL-CIO's "Ask a Working Woman" survey this summer say they are worried about health care, retirement security, wages failing to keep up with inflation and other economic issues.

Paying for health care topped the list of women's concerns, with 97 percent of respondents — across race and age lines — saying they are worried about rising costs. Half of the African-American respondents and about two-thirds of white respondents said health care should be the top legislative priority.

Meanwhile, they said they are working harder, working longer and most are shouldering at least half the burden for their family's financial welfare.

"Could working women be more loud and clear about what they want and need?" said Linda Chavez-Thompson, AFL-CIO executive vice president. "Affordable health care. A paycheck that keeps up with the cost of living. A secure retirement. Quality child care. And they want CEOs held accountable when workers' jobs are on the line."

The survey, the sixth the AFL-CIO has conducted among working women since 1997, showed that women often have erratic schedules and long hours. A third of all women work evenings, nights, and weekends.  At least two in five women work different shifts than their partners or husbands. More than 20 percent work two or more jobs.

The poll results will be finalized and presented to federal and state lawmakers in time for Labor Day and the beginning of the fall election season. To see the survey and more results, go to www.aflcio.org.