ResumeBuilder.com Study Finds 1 in 3 Women Who Left Their Jobs During the Pandemic Are Still Unemployed

ResumeBuilder.com, the premier resource for free and professional resume templates, has published a recent survey report to gain insight into the unemployment rates among American women. The study highlights key factors contributing to joblessness during the pandemic as well as barriers preventing women from rejoining the labor force. The survey generated responses from 1,250 American women ages 18 or older.

The report shows that 35 percent of women who became unemployed during the pandemic have not returned to the workforce. Most respondents cite layoffs as the main reason for losing their jobs. Thirty-five percent of unemployed women were laid off or furloughed, and 27 percent resigned because of concerns about COVID-19. Correspondingly, 11 percent of women quit their jobs to care for children, and 7 percent left the workforce to become caregivers for adult family members.

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The study indicates that minority, low-income, and older women disproportionately experience unemployment at higher rates. Forty-eight percent of women who earned $49,999 or less annually are still unemployed, compared to 16 percent of women who earned $125,000 or more. Among various age groups, 53 percent of women 55 and older are still unemployed, compared to only 38 percent of women ages 18-54. Black and Latino or Hispanic women also account for 46 percent and 39 percent of women out of work. In comparison, 32 percent of white women who left the workforce are still unemployed.

“Any time there is a large group of people willing and able to work who are out of work, it’s cause for concern,” career strategist and professional resume writer Carolyn Kleiman says. “Women make up a large part of the workforce, and are particularly dominant in fields like education, personal care, healthcare, food service, and retail sales. Employment in these fields was highly affected by the pandemic. Now we are seeing a cycle develop that affects other women.”

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According to the report, 50 percent of respondents say job opportunities with better pay and benefits would help them get back to work. Forty-nine percent of women want to work remotely, and 42 percent want jobs with flexible hours. Affordable childcare and health concerns are still a top priority for many women. Twenty-four percent of respondents want accessible childcare, and 32 percent would like to see lower virus transmission rates before returning to work.

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