The COVID-19 Pandemic is Forcing Millennial Mothers Out of the Workforce (WSN Spotlight)

This week, the Women’s Solidarity Network is providing space to spotlight how COVID-19 is impacting young mothers. The coronavirus pandemic is stretching Millennial parents to the breaking point and may set women in the labor force back decades. Millennials (born between 1981 - 1996) are now the largest generation in the U.S. labor force.

Research conducted by the Center for American Progress found Millennial mothers are nearly three times more likely than Millennial fathers to report being unable to work due to a school or child care closure. Women are often responsible for a much greater share of child care and household labor. Additionally, 80 percent of the 11 million single-parent families in the United States are headed by women. Without robust child care infrastructure or comprehensive paid leave for all, the gender gaps in employment, domestic caregiving, and lifetime wages will widen to levels last seen decades ago.

Read more about the study here.