Women and Labour Market in Canada – Recovery has been rapid and is now slightly ahead of men

Two years after the onset of the COVID-19, we explore how women in Canada are recovering in a tumultuous labour market.

KEY FINDINGS

• Two years after the start of the pandemic, jobs recovery for women in Canada has been rapid and is now slightly ahead of men’s recovery. As of February 2022, women’s employment is up by 2.0% (+178,000 jobs) compared to February 2020, while men’s employment is up 1.9% (+192,000 jobs) over the same period.
• Women’s employment recovery has been strongest among women aged 25–54 (“core-aged”). By February 2022, the share of core-aged women with a job reached the highest level ever recorded (81%), primarily driven by gains in full-time employment.
• The employment gains for core-aged women are concentrated in middle- and high-earning occupations, which have increased by more than 4% since 2020’s lows. Employment for women is up slightly in lower paying occupations, 0.5% above pre-pandemic levels.
• Across all age groups, part-time employment for women is up 1.6% (+37,000 jobs) compared to two years ago. The recovery of part-time employment continues to be strongest for men 25 years old and over.
• Full-time employment for younger (15–24 years) and older (55+ years) women and men has yet to fully recover, remaining below pre-COVID levels.
• The initial declines in the labour force participation rate among mothers has now been fully reversed. Core-aged women with children are now participating in the labour force at or above pre-pandemic levels.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story @  Women in Recovery: COVID-19 and Women’s Labour Market Participation — LMIC-CIMT