Today’s jobs figures from the Department of Labor show that Americans are piling back into the workforce. In September, just over 80% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 54 were working. That’s the largest proportion since March 2007. That trend’s being driven disproportionately by women: Last month, 74% of women in the same age range were working — the highest number since 2001.
What’s it like to return to the workforce in this economy?

A job fair Filippo Alfero/Getty Images