Last spring, some called the recession a “she-cession,” as so many women had left or been let go from their jobs. This had a simple explanation. Most job losses after the lockdowns were concentrated in industries that employ more women: food, retail, and other in-person services. But as the economy reopens and the labor market recovers, many women still aren’t returning to work. A principal culprit could be government policies.
While women are having an easier time finding employment than a year ago, some effects have lingered. In April 2020, less than 50 percent of women were in the labor force; the female unemployment rate was 16.1 percent. By May 2021, female unemployment fell to 5.5 percent—a huge improvement, but still more than 2 percentage points higher than before the pandemic. Nevertheless, while the labor market for women was more damaged by Covid, it also experienced a stronger recovery: the male unemployment rate stands at 6 percent.
Read Full Article »