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Early Signs Indicate That COVID-19 Is Exacerbating Gender Inequality in the Labor Force
Liana Christin Landivar1, Leah Ruppanner2, William J Scarborough3
1Maryland Population Research Center, College Park, MD, USA.
Socius : Sociological Research for a Dynamic World
|June 30, 2021
Summary
The COVID-19 crisis disproportionately impacted women's employment, increasing labor force exit and unemployment, especially for mothers. This exacerbates existing gender inequality with potential long-term consequences.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Economics
- Public Health
Background:
- The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created unprecedented economic disruption.
- Understanding its impact on the labor force is crucial for policy and recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on labor force participation, unemployment, and work hours.
- To examine these effects across gender and parental status in the United States.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Current Population Survey.
- Compared labor market estimates from February 2020 (pre-crisis) to April 2020 (height of the first wave).
- Focused on the period encompassing the initial COVID-19 outbreak and widespread stay-at-home orders.
Main Results:
- Women, particularly mothers, experienced disproportionately negative employment outcomes.
- Mothers were more likely than fathers to leave the labor force or become unemployed.
- Married mothers in telecommuting-capable jobs reduced work hours significantly more than fathers.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 crisis has worsened pre-existing gender inequalities in employment.
- These employment disparities have significant long-term implications for women's careers and economic standing.
- Policy interventions may be needed to mitigate these effects and promote gender equity.
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