Women and labor market: effects of covid-19

Abstract

The economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has affected economic activity worldwide, leading to a decline in international trade, slow economic growth, business closures, and the adoption of new forms of remote work; however, its effects are not limited to the economic sphere but have also spilled over into the labor market. The economic crisis has affected the labor market, leading to increases in unemployment (people without jobs) and inactivity (people not participating in the labor market), with the latter characterized by workers leaving the labor force; furthermore, the economies of developing countries with high rates of underemployment (jobs that pay low wages and underutilize human resources) and informality (jobs not governed by legal and social security frameworks) may attract large numbers of people to join their ranks as a potential solution for generating income. In this context, one of the main population groups affected has been women, particularly due to the increasing precariousness of their working conditions, which has led to their transition toward inactivity, unemployment, underemployment, or informality; these latter options are considered to contribute to a decline in their individual and family well-being, as well as to their descent into poverty.