Would you say a lot's changed since the 1950s? The Cold War. Civil Rights. Elvis Presley.
And yet, despite how different America may seem on so many levels from the 1950s, one thing remains (perhaps surprisingly) the same. The most common job for American women is — drum roll, please — secretary.
In fact, according to the U.S. Census, the top five jobs for women in 2010 changed very little from 1950. Back in the '50s, women most commonly held positions as secretaries, bank tellers or clerical workers, sales clerks, private household workers and teachers.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
And in 2010? The top five jobs include secretary holding out at No. 1, then cashier, elementary and middle school teacher, nurse and nursing aide.
While it might surprise you that about four million workers in the U.S. still fell under the category of "secretaries and administrative assistants" between 2006 and 2010, it makes sense if you really stop to think about it.
"Every time a major new technology showed up, there were always predictions that this would spell the end of secretaries," Ray Weikal, spokesman for the International Association of Administrative Professionals told CNN Money. "You saw that with the development of electric typewriters, the personal computer and the internet, but every time technology gets more efficient, the amount of business increases. You continue to need people who can use those tools."
In fact, don't count administrative assistants out any time in the near future, either. According to Labor Department projections, the category will grow 12 percent between 2010 and 2020, adding approximately 493,000 jobs during the decade.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tariffs were supposed to drive inflation. Why hasn’t that happened?
How can you find a financial adviser you trust?
8 gifts for the host that does the most
