Future of work
A curated resource of recent research on trends shaping Canada's labour market.
This research explores the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender and class equity. The authors find that between February and October 2020, gender inequalities in employment widened primarily because female-dominated sectors were more disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. School closures and childcare restrictions also widened the gap.
However, as restrictions eased, re-opening occurred and childcare options became widely available, the gender employment gap reduced. Yet, vital factors may hinder recent progress, including school closures during vaccine rollout and reduced overall capacity in the childcare sector.
The paper emphasizes that a strong and affordable childcare system that prioritizes after-school care will be critical for recovery. The ongoing conflict between employment and care, along with rising COVID-19 cases, highlights the need for an intersectional lens when assessing pandemic impacts.