SEATTLE — You've likely heard that this recession is impacting women more than men.
Some say the reason stems from the sectors impacted, like retail, since many employ women and were completely shut down during the pandemic. Washington state's unemployment numbers show the top three sectors impacted are healthcare, educational services and retail. Still, others believe there is a fundamental problem with the workplace, and the pandemic only highlights those issues.
The looming recession has been coined a "she-session" because of how it's impacted women from the economic downturn to the added responsibilities women are taking on at home with homeschooling, housework and their career.
The Riveter is a Seattle-based company that calls itself a working women's union. Amy Nelson, the company's CEO, says the workforce also needs to change once we come out of the pandemic. She says pay equity has always been an issue for women, but now there are more glaring challenges with how the workforce helps families. Nelson thinks it's time for government intervention.
"It really should step in and try to change that dynamic by bringing in things like child care as infrastructure," said Nelson. "Paid sick leave, paid parental leave after babies arrive – I mean, it's shocking that we don't have those things."
Jonathan Sposato, author of Better Together and chairman of Geekwire, agrees the pandemic has revealed issues and inequities in the workplace.
"The pain that some of us are experiencing now will significantly change how managers and bosses think about our views on childcare and even cultural changes in the workplace about how we allow people to bring their whole selves to work," said Sposato. "We're not just worker bees in the office and parents at home, but we're both of those things everywhere."
One innovation already happening in Seattle with child care is the creation of Weekdays, nicknamed the Airbnb of child care. CEO Shauna Causey is a mother of two who struggled with finding child care, so now her company pairs parents with child care services.
As for working women struggling in this economy, The Riveter has now started an online platform to help those in search of career guidance, networking opportunities, learning new skills, or finding job openings. The Riveter says it's built by women but is for everyone, as there are men on the company's digital platform as well.
Even though national research shows women struggling more than men, Washington state numbers show more men are applying for unemployment benefits.