Female Trend Following Males in Workforce Participation
In a July 22 article, the New York Times reports that the recent economic downturn has had the same negative impact on the female members of the workforce as it has had on male employees. The article describes that this is the first time since the women’s movement came to life that the same percentage of women at work has fallen, instead of rising.
At first, economists attributed the drop-off to women deciding to stay home to raise families or maintain a home. However, in the past few years, economists have tracked the reasons and now believe that women are reacting as men have to the slow economy: by dropping out and waiting for more favorable financial conditions.
The Joint Economic Committee study, initiated by the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, cites the evidence that women are leaving the workforce “on par with men,” and believes the situation holds “potentially disastrous consequences for families.”
