Inforum, Sphere Trending Unveil Report Focusing on Women in the Workplace

DETROIT, Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Inforum, Michigan's leading network for professional women  and  Sphere Trending, a cutting-edge consulting and forecasting firm based in Waterford, Mich., have released "Women & the Workplace," a new installment of an ongoing research partnership to examine trends affecting women in the second decade of the 21st century.

Maxine Lauer, CEO (Creative Examiner of Opportunities) for Sphere Trending said the report showcases some good news for employers who know how to develop and cater to the young women who are increasingly taking the lead in America's skilled workforce.

"Single, childless women in their 20s are more likely than their male counterparts to graduate from college," Lauer said. "Clearly, that demographic segment is going to be where a lot of the new young talent will come from in years ahead. Companies who understand them and meet their needs have the best chance of recruiting and retaining members of this key group."

Other key findings from the report include:

• Women are survivors: Women are the positive demographic coming out of this most recent recession. They continue to make headway in education, earning power and new business formation. "Personal businesses," those with no employees, are growing in number.
• Homes are not just for living in anymore:  Homes is evolving to accommodate new ways of working. Meanwhile, office spaces are shrinking as more people work remotely from home or other places.
• Mobile devices are becoming extensions of us:  Surveys show that mobile phones and similar devices are often cited as the most important technology in the lives of Americans. And social media is an increasingly important way to keep in touch.
• Gen X is stressed out: Gen Xers are moving up in the corporate hierarchy. But as they do that, many are feeling over-worked and feeling the stress of balancing their home and work lives.

For a free downloadable copy of the report, click here.

Terry Barclay, President and CEO of Inforum and Inforum Center for Leadership, said the new report is part of Inforum's ongoing effort to give women and their employers the tools they need to lead and succeed in today's world.

"This report reinforces a message Inforum has been sending for years: The successful organizations of the future will be woman-friendly, technologically savvy and willing to embrace a lot of change very fast," Barclay said. "Employers who hold on to a 20th-century mindset will not be able to keep up in a world where the workforce is increasingly dominated by educated young women who have technology and know how to use it."

About Inforum
Detroit-based Inforum is one of the largest and most prestigious business forums for women in the nation, with more than 1,800 members from a broad cross-section of Michigan's business community.  The mission of the organization is to strengthen the business environment by creating opportunities for women to lead and succeed. Founded as the Women's Economic Club in 1962 in Detroit, Inforum has affiliates in Grand Rapids and Lansing, Michigan.  For more information, visit www.inforummichigan.org or call 877.633.3500.

About Sphere Trending
Sphere Trending, based in Waterford, Mich., is a consulting and forecasting firm that specializes in trends affecting our environments, through a deep understanding of consumer needs and desires, societal changes, technological innovations and retail landscapes. Sphere Trending then combines these macro trends with design trends to bring innovative strategies to market.
Sphere Tending's clients include Fortune 500 companies as well as other companies involved in the retailing and manufacturing of flooring, building materials, arts and crafts, tabletops, electronics, indoor and outdoor furniture, and other household consumables. To learn more about Sphere Trending and its offerings, please visit www.spheretrending.com.

SOURCE Inforum

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