Future Care Solutions from a Current Reality: The Impact of COVID-19 on Female Workers

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Women and Minorities: Current Caregivers to Future Healthcare Workers

According to a recent AARP report, the demographic characteristics of caregivers have remained relatively the same since 2015–and the conclusion? Caregiving is universal and remains an activity across all populations. One steady fact is that the responsibility of caring for a loved one disproportionately falls on women, especially minorities. It is common to assume women naturally fall into a caregiving role over men, but what does the research say? 

 

The Gender Gap in Caregiving

In 2020, 61% of caregivers were women. Furthermore, 27% of women compared to 20% of men cared for two or more adults.

The disparity between these statistics becomes more meaningful when considering the sacrifices, responsibilities and expectations associated with stepping into a caregiving role. The burden disproportionately falls on women. 

According to BipartisanPolicy, a Washington D.C.-based think tank, approximately 825,000 women and 216,000 men dropped out of the U.S workforce in September 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly a quarter of the women doing so to manage caregiving responsibilities.

 

That’s nearly twice as many women than men choosing, or perhaps being expected, to perform beyond their title as — mom, teacher, nurse, cook, housekeeper, etc. — while sacrificing their paycheck, benefits and career goals. 

The lasting impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on America’s workforce have yet to be fully realized.

 

Unrealized Pandemic Impacts 

When the pandemic caused schools, daycares and businesses to close or go virtual, parents and family members had to stay home and take care of their families where societal institutions usually filled the gap. In most cases, women and minorities left the workforce to care for their home lives. 

Business has by no means been normal for anyone during the pandemic, but for women — especially mothers, senior-level women and Black women — it’s been particularly challenging. According to Yahoo! Finance, 100% of the jobs lost in December 2020 were held by women. Furthermore, the 2020 Women in the Workplace report states 1 in 4 women are considering downshifting their careers or even leaving the workforce due to the pandemic. 

If the path back into America’s workforce isn’t improved and expedited for women and minorities, many jobs could remain vacant and the strides made toward gender diversity may be jeopardized. How can we make sure this doesn’t happen now or in a post-COVID world?

 

ProsperCare Advocates for Women and Minorities in Workforce Development 

ProsperCare helps candidates translate personal experiences caring for family members or friends, as the gateway to a prosperous career in caregiving. We help candidates navigate the healthcare job market by smoothing the way from apply-to-90 days on the job. The ProsperCare process helps bridge the gap between candidates and clients who provide care, as a much-needed ally for women and minorities who will soon be looking to re-enter the workforce.

If you’ve been affected by the pandemic and have caring experience, we’d love to help you learn more about our process and how we can help guide you through a career shift to caring. 

 

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