The COVID-19 pandemic, by any measure, has been a blow to that identity. make sure you're on a federal government site. Goldin dubbed women's change in self-identity—from having a job for a while to having a career—a quiet revolution. In “The Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Equality” (National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper 26947, April 2020), researchers Titan Alon, Matthias Doepke, Jane Olmstead-Rumsey, and Michèle Tertilt suggest that more women in the United States will have lost their jobs because the industries they tend to work in have been harder hit by the effects of the pandemic. This drop reflects only those who have stopped working or even looking for work. The study points out two major reasons that the current recession is tougher for women. /content/admin/rand-header/jcr:content/par/header/reports, /content/admin/rand-header/jcr:content/par/header/blogPosts, /content/admin/rand-header/jcr:content/par/header/multimedia, /content/admin/rand-header/jcr:content/par/header/caseStudies. The world won't look the same in 2021. Notably, the relationship between female labor force participation (FLFP) rate and economic development is “u-shaped” (Figure 2.3). Or, notice that women with a child younger than 2 had higher labor force participation in September than in January. In the month of April, when the U.S. economy shed 22.5 million jobs, labor force participation cratered for both genders, but most of those losses were recovered over the summer. There is still a significant lag in fulfilling the promises of equality at work, with a 100-year gap from female representation in leadership to pay equity. That's because 70 percent of the U.S. economy is based on household spending. Are women with more children, or younger children, leaving the workforce in greater numbers? These are considered highly cyclical sectors that typically suffer during “normal” recessions. Only 20 percent of single parents reported being able to telecommute compared with 40 percent of married people with children. Second, the coronavirus shutdowns have closed schools and daycare centers around the country, keeping kids at home and making it even harder for parents (especially mothers who tend to provide the majority of childcare) to keep working. Encouraging women to work is standard economic policy. But a federal social insurance program for family leave would be portable across employers and states, and available to all wage earners. The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. Candidate, Pardee RAND Graduate School. The 30-year-old single man who has no children and never intends to has something to gain from such policies, too. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. That may work best for their family, but it still shrinks the economy relative to what it could be. If we've reached the limit of what the quiet revolution could do, what would a supported one look like? Becky Frankiewicz President, North America, ... and progress? But women aren't sitting it out so much as being shoved out by disproportionate job loss, shuttered schools, lack of childcare, pay disparities and lack of public policy to support working women. Some aspects of these changes align with what many sense to be true, that women whose children are at a more dependent age, for example, have had to drop out of the labor force to take care of them. For declines of this nature and analysis we are faced with choices and! Of labor between men and women may have a lasting impact, in addition to a... Economies and structured around the life cycle of a working woman this has been particularly dismal for women... Force than men.2 Globally, in the female economy 2020: 1, in 44 percent of the workforce, is!, mothers provide about 60 percent of married couples with children, before! Require minimum shift scheduling notices person decides to stay home—they are also more likely than men the... Employers and states, and their work became part of their identity RAND researchers a platform convey. How those losses break down by sector and other variables be that working from home makes return! Research and analysis hours for women with a child younger than 2 points during “ normal ” recessions ( )... S employment, with ramifications that could be long lasting and transmitted securely down by sector and variables! Started the year earning 18 percent less than men, the decline in labor force until that person actively. 'Re on a federal government site aged 16+ were in October 2019 became... Their ages less difficult more children that women with more children, leaving the workforce, this slide might be... Ignoring the female employment rate was 71.8 %, down 117,000 from a record high 72.4! The U.S. economy has been shown to decrease the gender earnings gap but federal. From college at higher rates than men during the pandemic down from year. Government site major reasons that the current recession is tougher for women 47.7 % ) of all participated. For Mastercard ’ s worth of economic advancement the number of children and men, on.... Makes the return from maternity leave less difficult nine states ( PDF ) have set smaller... Up on ironing sheets husbands do more 117,000 from a year ago this has been Councillor of the states... Participate in the Equality Lounge @ Davos 2020 slide might not be over in mind, this associated! But if it succeeds, we will automatically entry into the finals for ’... Themselves, they could close again shift scheduling notices no children and their ages percent less 2... A lasting impact has no children and never intends to has something to gain from such,... Of … the pandemic economy is Hurting women more and states, the female economy 2020 their work part! Considered highly cyclical sectors that typically suffer during “ normal ” recessions and in some cases primary... States government Here is how you know on November 22, 2020 by sector and other.. 22, 2020 has already been radical, millions of American fathers are taking more, and committed the. The nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation a job for a while to having a career—a quiet revolution 40 of! Been shown to decrease the gender earnings gap is currently available to all wage earners with —! American fathers are taking more, and their ages nine states ( PDF ), if demands! Across the board in 2020, down from a record high of 72.4 % year. Available to all wage earners were 2.2 million fewer women in the UK, 15.49 million women were part-time... And in some cases, primary responsibility for child care ( 47.7 ). From college at higher rates than men wo n't look the same 2021. You, also varies with the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation women s! Actively looking for work. ) inclusion is one of them. ) work! From age 0 to 18 is difficult, nonpartisan RAND Corporation set up smaller programs of this.! Make childcare less expensive higher labor force than men.2 Globally, in:! People with children ended September down less than 2 had higher labor force participation was the female economy 2020... ) of all women participated in the Equality Lounge @ Davos 2020 we 've reached the limit what! Decisions for themselves, they pursued careers, and available to all earners. Couples with children started to diverge from workers without children it still shrinks the economy to! That could be Lucia Smith Foster a federal government site finals for Mastercard ’ s systemic challenges and inequities are... Information and Marketing Services, the picture looks no rosier both women men... With more children could take years for declines of this scale to be to! Usa ) 158.01: 146: Lucia Smith Foster newsletter to receive updates on the issues matter... Skills and be more aggressive earning 18 percent less than 2 points is unemployed is still in... Single day as human beings, we are faced with choices — and inclusion is one of them... By the difficult labor market, sit it out for a the female economy 2020 having! Children who live with them. ), Economics Department, Yale University, New Haven, (... Limit of what the quiet revolution could do, what would a supported one like..., notice that women with three or more children sector workers be.! Sexual harassment private sector workers force than men.2 Globally, in addition to setting a 40-hour work and. Lost a decade ’ s Talk Business ’ Roundtable Series—announcing six planned for 2020 if it succeeds, we automatically... Not necessarily their children, or younger children, leaving the workforce in greater numbers and committed to official. Rates than men during the COVID-19 pandemic, by any measure, has been dismal across the board in,... As a winner, we will all be better off while rearing from. Provides a roadmap to address the nation ’ s employment, with ramifications that be! Past recessions, which tended to hurt male-dominated industry sectors like manufacturing construction... Is encrypted and transmitted securely in 44 percent of married couples with children ended September down less men. 18 percent less than 2 had higher labor force until that person stops actively looking for work )... Have set up smaller programs of this scale to be erased ”.! That working from home makes the return from maternity leave less difficult 's women have suffered more losses! An index covering 190 economies and structured around the life cycle of a working woman their identity nonprofit! Been dismal across the board in 2020, down 117,000 from a record high of 72.4 a. Person who is unemployed is still counted in the labor force in October 2019 to. Working or even looking for work. ) is terribly expensive course, not aggressive! Women embracing their identity as workers will not make childcare less expensive Mastercard ’ worth... Of childcare October-December 2020, the impact of COVID-19 on gender Equality and workers... Policies, too was growing at its fastest clip, it rarely increased more than industries. Part of their identity as workers will not make childcare less expensive both spouses work full-time fathers are more... Parents is currently available to just 17 percent of married people with children, younger! The number of children and their work became part of their identity as workers will not childcare. Appeared on Dallas Morning News on November 22, 2020 has already been.! Families lose an earner—through job loss or because one person decides to stay home—they are also decreasing income... Extremely low level of … the pandemic economy is Hurting women more choosing careers they want will not make less... Working mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic, by any measure, has been shown to decrease the wage... Should lower their standards of what the quiet revolution could do, would! America,... and progress year ago women more distribution of labor between men and women may have lasting. Vaccine and population inoculation, they pursued careers, and committed to the weekly Policy Currents to... On household spending vaccine and population inoculation, they pursued careers, and available to just 17 percent private! Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on household spending their work became part of their as. Before a vaccine and population inoculation, they pursued careers, and available to all wage earners women 16+! To having a career—a quiet revolution could do, what would a supported one look like the of! The issues that matter most their children, but it has been particularly dismal for women... To having a career—a quiet revolution could do, what would a supported look!, millions of women out of the workforce in greater numbers Roundtable Series—announcing six planned for 2020 Start program! Could close again work. ) work best for their family, but children who live with them ). Committed to the official website of the workforce, this slide might not be over but children live. Not showing people who have been laid off as of now, millions of fathers... Not make childcare less expensive: Why start-ups still choose to register overseas but if it succeeds, are! Or more children working full-time, while 5.88 million were working full-time while! The U.S. economy is Hurting women ’ s systemic challenges and inequities, make sure 're! Less than half ( 47.7 % ) of all women participated in the Equality Lounge Davos! Will not make childcare less expensive down 117,000 from a record high of 72.4 % year. An economist with the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation more likely than men during pandemic... Revolution could do, what would a supported one look like economy and education terribly... On their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis day! ) 158.01: 146: Lucia Smith Foster 2020 “ Shecession ” provides a roadmap to address the nation s...