Women Outnumber Men in U.S. Workforce for Third Time

In 2026, employed women outnumbered employed men for the third time in U.S. history, reflecting a shift toward healthcare and away from traditionally male-dominated blue-collar jobs.

Salon

During the COVID-19 shutdown, school closures pushed many mothers out of the labor force. Federal stimulus later funded childcare providers, cutting staff attrition and keeping early-education programs open. The expiration of those funds now aligns with a drop in maternal employment.

Salon

• In 2025, nearly half of children under six lived in a childcare desert.

Salon

• 45 % of mothers are primary breadwinners; inadequate childcare costs the U.S. economy $172 billion annually (ReadyNation).

Salon

• Seven-in-ten working mothers with children under five are not teleworking; telework rates show little gender gap for parents of school-aged children.

Salon

Affordable, high-quality childcare sustains women’s employment and supports overall economic growth. Loss of maternal labor reduces GDP, while continued investment could preserve recent gains in female labor-force representation. The connection is clear: after the Covid-era stimulus funds expired, maternal employment declined.

Salon

Federal officials said the pandemic stimulus “helped reduce attrition” in the underpaid childcare sector and kept early-education staff employed. States and cities are filling gaps, yet no comprehensive national plan exists.

Salon

Emma Grede, co-founder of SKIMS, calls remote work a “career suicide” for women, arguing that in-person visibility is essential for advancement. Media outlets echo concerns that telework hinders women’s careers, though some evidence suggests remote settings reduce gender-based discrimination.

Salon

Research on telework’s impact on maternal employment is mixed; some studies find modest retention benefits for mothers of young children, others see little gender difference. Data on post-pandemic childcare funding remains incomplete, limiting assessment of its labor-market effect.

Salon

• “This year, for only the third time in American history, employed women outnumbered employed men.” — Salon article

Salon

• “Moms were more likely than dads and non-parents to leave the workforce to care for their kids who were stuck at home studying remotely.” — Salon article

Salon

• “She also calls remote work ‘career suicide,’ arguing that women need in-person visibility to get ahead.” — Emma Grede, co-founder, SKIMS

Salon

• “Lack of action on childcare is already costing the American economy $172 billion per year, according to data from the business-leader group ReadyNation.” — ReadyNation

Salon

Policymakers debate renewed federal childcare investments; several states propose subsidies and tax credits to expand affordable early-education. The outcome will affect the sustainability of the female-majority workforce.

Salon