Wives’ labor force exits during COVID-19: Temporal Differences by race/ethnicity and breadwinning status

• In Event: 20414 - Women's Labor Supply, Maintenance, Exit, and Consequences in Family

Abstract

This study investigates the disparities in women's labor force exits before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Women left the labor force during the pandemic due in part to the closure of female-dominated industries like retail, hospitality, and childcare. During September 2020, 865,000 women exited the labor force, signaling the toll the pandemic was having on mothers who foresaw the greater pending workload of caring for children home due to school closures while also working at their job.
This paper focuses on African American women as they have borne a substantial brunt of these challenges due to heightened job loss rates and unemployment, compounded by the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color. Our research is grounded in the sociological literature that highlights the unique challenges and disparities faced by Black women in the labor market. Research consistently demonstrates that racial and gender dynamics significantly influence employment outcomes, with Black women often experiencing higher rates of unemployment and underemployment compared to their white counterparts.
Using regression analysis of the Current Population Survey ASEC data, we find that Black women have a higher predicted probability of a labor force exit than white women, and this is particularly evident during COVID. We do not find support for our hypothesis that wife primary providers have lower propensity for exits. Only among white wives do we see a higher probability of an exit among wives with husband primary providers. The intersection of race and breadwinning creates a distinct set of barriers for Black wives, who frequently navigate not only wage disparities but also the cultural expectations surrounding their roles within the family structure. Black women play a crucial role as breadwinners in their families, often out-earning their male partners, which affects both marital dynamics and broader societal patterns of gender and labor.

Authors

• Kristin Smith, Dartmouth College

• Kiosha Fowlkes, Dartmouth College