Today’s jobs report is a reminder that even as we make progress, there’s still a long climb ahead when it comes to ensuring good-paying jobs for all Americans—especially women. The economy has created over 1.5 million jobs during the past three months. But the country is still eight million jobs short of where it was before the pandemic, and there are still two million fewer women in the workforce today.
The Biden-Harris Administration has taken action to address the mass exodus of women from the workforce. The American Rescue Plan included provisions designed to help women workers, including through assistance for childcare, support for small businesses, and $1,400 checks. We are beginning to see the impact of that relief—as well as our vaccination effort—as more Americans go back to work.
But more action is needed. Roughly five million women still can’t work due to childcare issues. This reflects not just the ongoing acute childcare crisis but longstanding structural barriers to families having access to affordable childcare options. To that end, our American Families Plan will lower the cost of childcare, making it possible for more women to work. And our American Jobs Plan will help create millions of good-paying jobs.
When we lift up women, we lift up families and communities, and our economy is stronger.