The COVID-19 pandemic has not only disrupted economies worldwide but has also had a profound impact on the workforce, particularly affecting women. Experts have coined the term 'shecession' to describe this phenomenon, highlighting how the pandemic is reversing the progress women have made in the workplace.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 275,000 women left the workforce in January, compared to 71,000 men. This disparity underscores the disproportionate burden the pandemic has placed on women, with nearly 2.4 million women out of the workforce one year into the pandemic, compared to 1.8 million men.
As COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed and hopes for a return to normalcy grow, the critical question emerges: Will there be opportunities for women to re-enter the workforce? Dr. Caren Goldberg, a Human Resource Management professor, explains that the pandemic has exacerbated systemic issues within the workforce that disadvantage women.
Goldberg emphasizes that one effective way employers can address this imbalance is by promoting women into leadership roles. By fostering inclusive workplaces and providing support for women to ascend into positions of influence, companies can begin to rectify the setbacks caused by the pandemic and ensure that women have a prominent place in the post-pandemic workforce.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
