Women'S Employment Is Hard Hit By The Economic Downturn In The United States

For a long time, the economic downturn in the United States has mainly impacted the construction and manufacturing industries, which are mainly male workers. However, the economic downturn caused by the new crown epidemic has had a serious negative impact on female workers for the first time.

It is reported that before the outbreak of the epidemic in the United States in December of last year, the proportion of working women in the labor market in the United States has exceeded half. The main reason is that the revenue of the service industry dominated by women has greatly exceeded that of the industry dominated by men. However, after the suspension of commercial activities in the United States due to the new epidemic situation in March 2020, the service industries such as retail and entertainment were first hit, resulting in women's failure Employment is in trouble.

From February to April this year, the female unemployment rate rose by 12.8%, while the male unemployment rate rose by 9.9%, a record difference of 2.9%. This is the first time since the economic downturn in 1970 that the female unemployment rate is higher than the male unemployment rate. During the outbreak, more than 13 million women lost their jobs. At present, some women have returned to work. However, the number of women in employment is still 6 million less than that in February this year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of labor statistics, the female unemployment rate first appeared in double digits in April, reaching 16.2% and 13.5% in men. In September, about 216000 men left the job market, while 865000 women left the job market, about four times as many as men.

The epidemic has also forced schools and child care centres to be closed, and many working women have to reduce their working hours to take on family responsibilities. For a long time, it has a great impact on women's labor force participation, promotion and income. Economists predict that the decline may widen the wage gap between the sexes by 5%, while the wage gap caused by the general economic downturn is only 2%.