Future of work

This report discusses the impact of the pandemic and resulting recession on the labour market outcomes of women. A direct relationship exists between job losses and reduced hours worked among women and the increasing childcare responsibilities faced by families. First, in this recession the hardest hit industries were female dominated, unlike past recessions when male-dominated industries were hardest hit. Second, women are more likely to take on the increasing childcare responsibilities that stem from closed daycares, schools, and other extracurricular activities. The combination of these two factors can keep women out of the labour force, or working reduced hours, longer than their male counterparts, causing women to fall behind, which affects their long-term career opportunities and wage outcomes.