Analysis: Women Account for Vast Majority of Recent U.S. Job Gains

According to U.S. Labor Department data, women have filled approximately 17 jobs for every 1 job filled by men in the early part of the current presidential term. This disparity is largely attributed to strong growth in the healthcare sector.

Employment Data and Sectoral Trends

A review of the data shows that 369,000 jobs were created in the period referenced across the sources. Of these, 348,000 were filled by women and 21,000 by men.

The primary driver of this imbalance is the healthcare sector, which added 390,000 jobs over the 12 months preceding the analysis. Women hold nearly 80% of positions in this field.

In contrast, the manufacturing sector—a stated policy priority—added 15,000 jobs in March 2024. However, the sector remains down 82,000 jobs from its level at the start of the referenced presidential administration.

Historical Context of Women's Employment

Women's share of U.S. jobs, excluding farm work and self-employment, has grown significantly over recent decades:

• In the mid-1970s, women held about 40% of jobs.
• By the early 2000s, their share had grown to just under half.
• This share has remained around 50% since, briefly crossing that threshold during the Great Recession, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the current period.

Expert Analysis and Perspectives

Economists and policy analysts offered explanations for the trend and potential responses.

Betsey Stevenson, a professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan, stated that for male job growth to match the current rate for women, men would need to enter fast-growing fields like healthcare.

"Men are more likely than women to have their occupational identity tied to a specific field, which can make transitioning sectors more difficult," Stevenson noted.

She suggested one approach could be reframing certain jobs to appeal to a broader demographic, such as highlighting physical aspects of healthcare work or the role of male preschool teachers as positive role models.

Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, described the labor market trend as not surprising given long-term declines in male labor force participation. He stated there is "no cause for panic" but argued for alertness to signs that the market "might be moving even more quickly in directions that are leaving too many men behind."

Reeves advocated for policies and programs to draw male workers into fields such as nursing, teaching, and social work, similar to past efforts to increase women's participation in STEM fields.

Policy and Broader Labor Market Context

The current presidential administration has emphasized manufacturing growth. In a second inaugural address, President Donald Trump declared, "America will be a manufacturing nation once again." The White House cited the March 2024 manufacturing job gains as evidence that "the best days for American workers, manufacturers, and families are still ahead."

Stevenson noted that the focus on manufacturing may not create enough jobs for all men seeking employment. She also stated that discrimination and occupational segregation "are things that harm all of us," affecting women through barriers like promotion and pay gaps, and men by potentially limiting the sectors they consider for work.

Some reports indicated that government funding for programs aimed at addressing gender stereotypes has been reduced under the current administration.