One of the first tasks undertaken by the State of Montana's Interagency Committee for Change by Women (ICCW) when it formed in the mid-'70s was a thorough study of how women were faring in that era's workforce.

While researching the group's 30th anniversary some three years ago, current members of the ICCW came across the study at the Montana Historical Society. They decided to blow the dust off it and ask the same questions again to Montana's working women in 2009, to see what's changed in 32 years - and perhaps, what hasn't.

"We're trying to get the exact same data out of the second survey," said Monica Abbott, the lead Capitol operator who also chairs the ICCW. "The questions are almost identical."

The 1977 study dealt primarily with the employment-related needs of women, including help finding a job, training needs and dissatisfying aspects of jobs. The study found that opportunity for promotion, salary and availability of training programs were the most cited reasons for women to be dissatisfied with their work.

The dual responsibilities of job and family were most often cited as a problem by Montana's working women 32 years ago, with transportation and opportunities for promotion also commonly mentioned.

"The women with the least education said they did not need as much in work-related services," Abbott said. "The ones who had more education wanted more training."

The current edition of the survey has been updated to account for things that weren't commonplace or even in existence in 1977, like personal computers, online job ads and applications, home schooling, tribal colleges and the Workforce Investment Act.

In addition to being available on the Internet for anyone to take, the survey is being publicized at Job Service offices across the state and at other career training-type locations.

The original study was compiled by the former Women's Bureau at the Department of Labor and Industry, and the current administrator of L&I's Workforce Service Division said he's interested in what the current edition of the study will show.

"Whatever information they come up with could be very interesting for us as far as how we're dealing with workforce issues and if we're able to respond in a way that's needed," Mike Cooney said. "This may give us some interesting information about women in the workforce, what their needs are, where they've come from and where they want to be."

The survey will run until Dec. 31, and Abbott said the ICCW has contacted sociologists for help interpreting the results. The last survey was mailed to a scientifically selected group of women, but this iteration is open to anyone.

To participate in the survey, Montana women can go to www.mdt.mt.gov/iccw/surveys/wwork.shtml

John Harrington: 447-4080 or john.harrington@helenair.com