The country is also becoming more diverse. Ethnic and gender diversity. In the U.S. workforce is on the rise. In 1995, whites/non-Hispanics made up 75 percent of the workforce, but this is projected to decrease to 68 percent in 2012. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women comprised 46 percent of the labor force in 2006. The percentage of women over the age of 16 in the labor force has risen 23 percent in 44 years to 59 percent in 2004.