--- title: What’s Driving the Continued Women’s Labor Force Shortage? description: What’s Driving the Continued Women’s Labor Force Shortage? image: https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hubfs/8-9-2023.png --- [![Child Care Aware of Missouri Logo](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Child%20Care%20Aware%20Logo%20(1).png?width=666&height=414&name=Child%20Care%20Aware%20Logo%20(1).png "Child Care Aware of Missouri Logo")](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication) Open main menu Close main menu [Community Data](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/community-data) # What’s Driving the Continued Women’s Labor Force Shortage? [Child Care Aware® of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/author/child-care-aware-of-missouri) [Share this blog post via Email](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EWhat%E2%80%99s+Driving+the+Continued+Women%E2%80%99s+Labor+Force+Shortage%3F%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post%3A+https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/cd-whats-driving-the-continued-womens-labor-force-shortage) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/cd-whats-driving-the-continued-womens-labor-force-shortage) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/cd-whats-driving-the-continued-womens-labor-force-shortage) ![](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hubfs/8-9-2023.png) Excerpt from *FedCommunities* article by Jennifer Fernandez What Is Driving the Continued Women’s Labor Force Shortage? By Jennifer Fernandez July 12, 2023 While the overall unemployment rate in the US hit a low of 3.4% in [May 2023](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf), that number masks the nuanced reasons behind what is driving workers to join the workforce in the US. The [Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/cps/definitions.htm#:~:text=The%20unemployment%20rate%20represents%20the,%C3%B7%20Labor%20Force\)%20x%20100) counts an individual as unemployed *only *if they are actively seeking work. Individuals who may want to join the workforce, or work more hours, but are held back for other reasons—such as family obligations—are not counted among the unemployed.  During the pandemic, women left the labor force at a slightly higher rate than men and were slower to return to work, according to the [U.S. Chamber of Commerce](https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/understanding-americas-labor-shortage-why-one-million-women-are-missing-from-the-workforce). The lingering effects of the pandemic can still be found in the numbers three years later.   According to the most recent [Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking](https://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerscommunities/shed.htm) (SHED), 23% of prime work-aged (25-54 years old) respondents were not working in September 2022, the month prior to the survey. When looking at these numbers by gender, we see a large gap between men and women. Of prime work-aged women, 28% were not working, compared to just 18% of prime work-aged men.   Why do women continue to be absent in the workforce? SHED respondents cited child care and family obligations at a much higher rate compared to men. When asked what contributed to not working within the last month, women and men answered similarly with the exception of family obligations. Seven percent of women noted child care compared to 1% of men, and 10% of women noted family or personal obligations besides child care compared to 5% of men.   **Source:**Fernandez, J. (2023, July 12). *What is driving the continued women’s labor force shortage?* Fed Communities. [https://fedcommunities.org/what-driving-continued-womens-labor-force-shortage/](https://fedcommunities.org/what-driving-continued-womens-labor-force-shortage/) Child Care Aware® of Missouri – Data & Analysis Services Our comprehensive data analytic services include child care, demographic, economic, and social data to help your business grow. We offer customized data reports, analysis, and geographic mapping to interpret and visualize data. Contact us today. [![View Data Request Form](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20470294/ae9ca1d4-0d61-41e8-81f4-aae13f51cc59.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20470294/ae9ca1d4-0d61-41e8-81f4-aae13f51cc59) Director, Data & Analysis 314-881-4657 Child Care Aware® of Missouri [michael@mochildcareaware.org](mailto:michael@mochildcareaware.org)   | ![Picture1-Nov-18-2022-06-56-16-5318-PM](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Picture1-Nov-18-2022-06-56-16-5318-PM.png?width=224&height=112&name=Picture1-Nov-18-2022-06-56-16-5318-PM.png) | ![Picture2](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Picture2.png?width=104&height=104&name=Picture2.png) Data Literacy Certification Issued by [Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis](https://www.credly.com/organizations/federal-reserve-bank-of-st-louis/badges) | ![Picture2](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Picture2.png?width=104&height=104&name=Picture2.png) Monetary Policy Certification Issued by [Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis](https://www.credly.com/organizations/federal-reserve-bank-of-st-louis/badges) | | --- | --- | --- |         Explore our other Child Care Aware® of Missouri resources: [FREE Clock Hour Training](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/free-clock-hour-training) [Scholarships for Educators](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/scholarships-for-educators) [Child Care Health and Wellness](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/child-care-nutrition-and-physical-activity) [Family Child Care Network](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/family-child-care-network) [Leadership Development Opportunities](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/leadership-development-opportunities) [Missouri Office of Childhood Updates](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/missouri-office-of-childhood-updates) [Show Me Child Care Resources](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/show-me-child-care-resources) [Support Child Care Aware® of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/support-child-care-aware) [Community Data](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/community-data) [Join Our Team](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/join-our-team) [Resources to Build Your Business ](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/resources-to-build-your-business)     #### About - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### Services - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### News - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three Follow us on Facebook Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram