U.S. female labor force participation declines significantly

Recent federal data indicates a significant decline in female labor force participation in the United States. According to an analysis by the National Women's Law Center, nearly 850,000 women have left the U.S. workforce since January, more than double the 406,000 men who exited during the same period.

In July, women accounted for the entirety of the net decline in the U.S. labor force. While the economy lost 23,000 jobs that month, women lost 32,000 roles, whereas men gained 9,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the labor force participation rate has dropped 0.7 percentage points since the beginning of the year.

In Oregon, similar trends have been observed. State economists noted a decline in the number of women in the labor force over the past year, while the number of men has increased. Oregon’s unemployment rate for women currently stands at 5.6%, compared to 4.9% for men, a reversal from the previous year.