Fewer women workers are returning to back in United States

The latest employment numbers in United States is showing a resurging labor market. U.S. employers are creating more job opportunities and unemployment numbers are also down. However, women have seen an uneven and slower recovery.

1.1 million women workforce is missing

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employment Situation Survey has shown that the employment has edged down and job growth has widespread. For the second month in a row, employment rose and unemployment decreased to 3.8 percent. Women workers have suffered the most since the advent of COVID-19 in 2020. Currently, around 1.1 million are missing from the labor force as compared to women workers in March 2020. Women are finding themselves with a gap on their resume as they were forced out of work during the peak months of pandemic.

Women workforce in labor & hospitality sector

COVID-19 had an adversely negative impact on leisure and hospitality sector. Lockdowns and restrictions forced the employers of this sector to lay off workers. Women held more than 53% jobs in leisure and hospitality sector. Leisure and hospitality sector is now recovering and sector is generating new jobs. It is expected to have a positive impact on women employment. However, according to BLS report men acquired lion’s share of the new jobs in January (65 percent) and February (61%).

Challenges for women of color

In particular, women of color are struggling in terms of employment. 31,000 black women entirely left the workforce in February. Moreover, black women are the among the segment of workforce witnessing an increase in unemployment rate during February 2022. The unemployment number rose to 6.1% compared to 5.8% in January 2022. In addition, nearly one third of black women are out of work for six months or longer.

Another consistent theme for women in the workplace is the desire for more flexible options at work. Women took on the brunt of the childcare and home-schooling responsibilities during pandemic times. Therefore, it is important that employers must provide flexible work options to women. In fact, women in 2020 were 26% more likely to apply to remote jobs on LinkedIn compared to men. Moreover, in a recent global survey 53% of the women had either left their job or considering leaving jobs due to lack of flexible work opportunities.

Linkedin researches reiterates the employers must come up new strategies to provide better work environment for women. This may help women workforce to get back to work.

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