Working mothers power economy, thanks largely to health care

Women, especially mothers with young children, are the primary “lifeline” of the U.S. economy, thanks in no small part to the health care sector. The Center for American Progress (CAP) says, despite the loss of billions of dollars in pandemic-era childcare subsidies, labor force participation among mothers with children under the age of 5 is up significantly from pre-pandemic levels. It’s only the third time since 1990 that women made up a majority of the nonfarm workforce. CAP, in an analysis of the newest jobs report, notes that the health care industry, which is more than 78% women, “has become the backbone of the labor market, typically maintaining positive job growth even in months when the labor market has shed jobs.”