Insights
Slayton Search Partners: Ensuring Women Stay in the Workforce: Is Flexibility Enough?
As we mark four years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s crucial to acknowledge the remarkable resilience displayed by women in rejoining the labor force. At the height of the crisis, it was reported that as many as two million women left the workforce, primarily to care for dependents. Today, the numbers far exceed pre-pandemic levels, with women making a significant and triumphant comeback. However, that’s not the end of the story.
The fact is, men still outnumber women in the workforce—and, notably, the U.S. has significantly fewer women in the labor market than European countries, Japan, and Australia. And whether they are working or not, many of these women are deeply involved in what has been labeled the “care economy.”
If organizations want to support their female workforce as well as nurture the next generation of women leaders, understanding the ongoing challenges is critical. Only then can actionable steps be taken to achieve gender inclusivity and equity.