The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the workforce in many ways, especially for women. While women have made great strides in closing the gender pay gap over the last several decades, the pandemic ground those efforts to a halt as it forced millions of women out of the workforce.

                By                    Jenny Rose Spaudo

Check Out: 5 Industries That Experienced a Surprise Boom Despite COVID-19Find Out More: The 3 Biggest Barriers to Women Reentering the Workforce

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Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 2.0%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 6.3%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 4.3

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 215.00%

Establishments in this sector include those that extract naturally occurring mineral solids, liquid minerals and natural gases. This can include quarrying, well operations, crushing, screening, washing and flotation as well as other related activities at mine sites.

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Motion Pictures and Sound Recording Industries

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 5.1%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 13.7%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 8.6

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 168.63%

Workers in this sector produce and distribute films and sound recordings. This includes establishments that contract with performers, create the film or sound content, or provide technical postproduction services.

Private Households

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 4.7%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 9.6%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 4.9

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 104.26%

Working roles in this sector include cooks, maids, butlers, gardeners, caretakers and other maintenance workers.

Transportation and Warehousing

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 4.2%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 8.3%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 4.1

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 97.62%

Jobs that involve transporting passengers or cargo — including for scenic or sightseeing purposes — as well as warehousing or storing goods fall into this sector.

Accommodation and Food Services

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 5.1%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 10.0%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 4.9

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 96.08%

Establishments in this sector provide customers with lodging or prepare meals, snacks and beverages for immediate consumption. Many establishments do both, such as resorts or certain hotels.

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Transportation and Utilities

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 3.9%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 7.6%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 3.7

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 94.87%

This supersector includes four sectors: 1) wholesale trade, which includes jobs related to wholesaling merchandise and related services; 2) retail trade, which includes jobs engaging in retailing merchandise and related services; 3) transportation and warehousing, which includes establishments that transport passengers or cargo or that store goods and support related activities; and 4) utilities, which covers establishments that provide electric power, natural gas, steam or water supply and sewage removal.

Leisure and Hospitality

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 5.2%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 9.9%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 4.7

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 90.38%

The leisure and hospitality supersector is comprised of two sectors: arts, entertainment and recreation, which covers public live performances and recreational activities; and accommodation and food services, which covers businesses that offer lodging, meals, snacks or beverages.

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 5.2%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 9.6%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 4.4

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 84.62%

This sector covers establishments involved in the performing arts, spectator sports, gambling and recreation or amusement activities. It also includes museums, historical sites and similar establishments.

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 2.3%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 4.1%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 1.8

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 78.26%

This sector covers organizations engaged in renting, leasing or granting users access to assets. Assets can be tangible, such as real estate, equipment or cars, or intangible, such as patents and trademarks.

Wholesale Trade

  • Unemployment rate for women, 2019: 3.3%
  • Unemployment rate for women, 2021: 5.7%

  • change in unemployment rate for women: 2.4

  • % change in unemployment rate for women: 72.73%

Jobs involved in wholesaling merchandise — including in the agriculture, mining, manufacturing and publishing industries — fall into this sector.