Insights + Resources

How COVID-19 Caused a “She-Cession”

May 19, 2021

Several women-dominated industries were hit hardest by the pandemic.

Since the 1980s, unemployment rates have trended higher amongst men than women during a recession. In previous periods of economic downturn, this made sense. Male-dominated industries, like construction and finance, were typically some of the most impacted by a recession.

But with the onset of COVID-19, we’ve seen a shift in what workforces are the most impacted. The unemployment rate among women more than quadrupled from 4.4% in March 2020 to 16.1% in April 2020. That’s a 2.5% higher rate of unemployment in women than men.1

There are a few reasons why this past year’s economic downturn is being called a “she-cession.”

Several women-dominated industries, including hospitality and leisure and entry-level food positions, were hit hardest by the pandemic. And when schools, nurseries, and daycares shut down, parents scrambled to cover. This increased need for full-time childcare meant many working mothers adjusted their professional roles to accommodate.

While the government offered several short-term assistance options to help those affected by the pandemic, there are long-term, compounding financial hardships that should be addressed by a professional. If you’ve experienced financial strain due to the long-lasting effects of COVID-19, do not hesitate to reach out. Let us help get your financial goals back on track.

For more insights and resources, be sure to sign up for our Weekly Market Commentary. Follow our YouTube channel where we regularly post our Epic Market Minute videos. Follow us on LinkedIn, or like us on Facebook. And as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a dedicated service professional at Epic Capital.

Tags: ,

More Insights

Jun 9, 2025

You’re beginning to accumulate substantial wealth, but you worry about protecting it from future potential creditors. Whether your concern is for your personal assets or your business, various tools exist to keep your property safe from tax collectors, accident victims, health-care providers, credit card issuers, business creditors, and creditors of others. To insulate your property … Continue reading “Estate Planning – Protecting Your Assets”

Jun 6, 2025

You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you’ll need to fund your retirement. That’s not as easy as it sounds, because retirement planning is not an exact science. Your specific needs depend on your … Continue reading “Estimating Your Retirement Income Needs”

Jun 4, 2025

As June begins, markets continue to navigate a complex landscape shaped by trade policy shifts, an uncertain economic and earnings outlook, and bond market headwinds. Several key developments in recent weeks may have implications for markets:

Apr 4, 2025

April showers came a month early as stocks fell in March. Tariffs were the primary cause of the market jitters, although that uncertainty became too much for markets to shrug off once economic data started to weaken.

Apr 2, 2025

A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, here are six basic principles that may help you invest more successfully.

Insights + Resources >