The impact of the pandemic has been devastating. As a result of the pandemic, many women had to exit or were forced to exit the workforce. A recent analysis showed that while men in the United States gained 16,000 net jobs in December 2020, women lost over 155,000 jobs.
Additional research has shown that COVID-19 disproportionately affected women as many felt the burden when the lockdown forced school and daycare closures. Approximately 32% of unemployed women were not working because COVID-19 disrupted their childcare.
As we prepare to welcome women back into the workforce, it will be beneficial to implement new practices in your business’ hiring process. For instance, removing bias from the job description and creating a more inclusive work environment. A business can begin by using gender-neutral titles in job descriptions and reconsidering a job’s major requirements.