Women Exiting the Workforce Because of COVID-19

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals nearly 617,000 women, compared to 78,000 men, left the work force in September. Two million women are considering taking a leave from work, according to information gathered by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org. Their Women in the Workplace study focused on how the pandemic has impacted women of all ethnicities in corporate America.

Kathy Miller Perkins, a leading coach, consultant and contributor to Forbes, writes that while the pandemic has affected all employees, working mothers are most affected because they are three times more likely to be responsible for household labor than their male partners. The McKinsey survey found that employers are not adjusting their expectations to consider the increased workload faced by working moms.

More women are employed in the sectors with the most layoffs such as hospitality, travel, education, and retail and many have had to quit part-time jobs because of lockdowns. According to TIME, two-thirds of restaurant workers who depend on tips for income are women and most do not have paid leave.

Women are also more likely to work in highly contagious fields such as healthcare. In fact, according to TIME, 92% of nurses are women. Added to the already disproportionate hardship women face, they are most likely to be the caregivers. There are five times the number of single moms in the U.S. as single dads, and women are 10 times more likely to stay home taking care of sick children. With school closures, this places a tremendous burden on mothers.

Experts urge governments to address the gender inequality issue and help respond to the needs of women in America and worldwide during crises such as the coronavirus pandemic. 

Perkins, host of the podcast, Conscious Culture Café, says companies must work to remove the barriers in the workplace that “prevent women from thriving at work and at home both during the pandemic and beyond.”