Whether they have been laid off or had to leave to care for children home from school, many are struggling to make ends meet. In fact, 1 in 4 women are considering leaving the workforce or downshifting their careers, according to a September Women in the Workplace report from Lean In and McKinsey & Company.
The implications are far-reaching and could result in a widening of the gender pay gap, said Emily Martin, vice president for education and workplace justice at NWLC. Long-term unemployment, as well as leaving the labor force entirely for a spell, that is certainly going to show up in wages once you are again employed, she said.