An equal number of women and men are of working age in the United States, yet men still make up a majority of those in the workforce.
“What we found, especially after COVID, is that women left the labor market because of childcare needs,” said Michelle Johnson, Title IX coordinator for Carl Sandburg College.
Johnson also said that female-dominated industries -- such as education, healthcare, and food services -- took the biggest economic hit during the pandemic.
While fewer women are in the workforce, they account for the largest percentage of those enrolled in colleges and universities.
At Carl Sandburg College, women make up 60% of those enrolled full-time, and at Spoon River College the figure is 59%.
At Western Illinois University, the full-time enrollment is more balanced, but women still hold a slim majority.
“They are looking to better themselves,” Johnson said about the number of women seeking a higher education degree.
“Many are looking to upskill their careers and we will see students who come back for a certificate, or an additional class.”
However, 77% of women with degrees are currently in the labor force – compared to 89% of men with degrees.
Women’s involvement in the labor market boomed between 1950 and 2000, but it has recently plateaued.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by next year, only 47% of those in the workforce will be women.
And with fewer women participating, there are fewer opportunities for women to be in leadership positions. The Center for American Progress said that without women in these positions, the gender divide might continue to grow.
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