Examining the Impacts of the Pandemic on Employment for Women

Abstract

As many employers shifted from the typical workplace to a remote work environment for their employees to limit the spread of the virus under the direction of healthcare and government officials, many others were forced to completely close their doors, drastically changing the structure of the workforce. This research aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gender employment gap. We examine the employment participation of women workers as they compare with men workers. In doing so, a nationwide comprehensive and multi-wave survey, i.e., the COVID future survey, was collected, providing information about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of individuals. Using this panel data, we show the disparity in the pandemic’s employment impacts on women workers compared with their men counterparts. Women’s odds of gaining or maintaining employment during the pandemic are less, in some cases significantly less, than their men counterparts.