At a Glance | Aug 26, 2021 How the Pandemic Altered the U.S. Labor Force 1 Reviewing the U.S. labor force from 2019 to 2020, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. PARTICIPATION Change in Labor Force Participation Rates From 2019 to 2020 In general, women lost more All Male Female ground in the labor force than men did during the pandemic. U.S. Labor Force Black Labor Force 80% 80% However, the pandemic hit 75% 75% Black Americans of both Percentage Change 70% genders the hardest. Hispanic 70% Male 70% 67% -2.5% Percentage females were also Change 65% 65% disproportionately affected by All 61.9% - 4. 5% 61.3% -2.7% losses in the labor force. 60% 60% 59.4% - 5 . 4% Female 57.3% - 6. 2% 55.9% -3.1% 2019 2020 2019 2020 Hispanic Labor Force White Labor Force Percentage 80% 80% Change 74.6% -1.6% 75% 75% Percentage Change 70% 70% 67.5% -2. 5% 65.3% -2.7% 65% 65% 61.4% -2. 5% 60% 60% 56% -4.1% 55.5% -2.6% 2019 2020 2019 2020 DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR FORCE Distribution by Age and Gender, 2019–2020 The share of women in the labor Male 2019 2020 Female 2019 2020 force decreased for the 12.2% -.1% youngest and oldest age 11.2% +.2% 10.7% -.2% cohorts. In contrast, younger 10.6% 0% 9.9% 0% 9.7% 0% males made up a larger share of 9% -.1% 8% +.1% the labor force after the pandemic. 6% +.3% 6% -.1% 3.7% 0% 3.1% -.1% 16–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65+ 16–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65+ Age Age 1. The U.S. labor force in this study consists of the civilian U.S. noninstitutionalized population for those ages 16 or older. The noninstitutionalized population excludes Americans in the military or institutions such as prisons or those for health care needs like nursing homes, mental institutions, etc. SOURCE: Copeland, Craig, “Labor Force Participation and the Pandemic: Making Sense of the Changes,” EBRI Issue Brief, no. 532 (Employee Benefit Research Institute, July 8, 2021). © 2021 EBRI This report is copyrighted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). You may copy, print, or download this report solely for personal and noncommercial use, provided that all hard copies retain any and all copyright and other applicable notices contained therein, and you may cite or quote small portions of the report provided that you do so verbatim and with proper citation. Any use beyond the scope of the foregoing requires EBRI’s prior express permission. For permissions, please contact EBRI at permissions@ebri.org.