Although many companies are desperate to hire and favorable to workers, many women cannot access these benefits, and are held back by a lack of caregiving services, The New York Times reported July 7.
The number of women who are looking for jobs or actively working is still down from 2019. Returning to work is difficult, particularly for unmarried women with young children and without college education who have rejoined the workforce much slower than others.
The care industry, a disproportionately female-led sector, suffered losses during the pandemic, reducing the number of caregivers available to look after children and the elderly. Without that workforce in full swing, working mothers and female caregivers have found it difficult to get back to work.
"I think it will be really interesting to see what the long-term consequences are on mothers' career opportunities," Ariane Hegewisch, program director in employment and earnings at the Institute for Women's Policy Research told the Times. "Women have continued to work, but they clearly had to cut back."