The Shifting Landscape of Job Growth: Women Lead the Way
As the job market continues to evolve, women are emerging as the primary beneficiaries of new employment opportunities, particularly in sectors like health care. This trend marks a significant shift in the labor market dynamics, prompting discussions about the roles of men and women in the workforce.
Back in December 2016, Betsey Stevenson, a public policy and economics professor at the University of Michigan, provided economic advice to then-President-elect Donald Trump. In an op-ed, she cautioned against urging men to hold onto jobs that were disappearing, and instead, she recommended making traditionally female-dominated jobs appealing to men.
Stevenson’s message remains pertinent today. While efforts have long focused on integrating women into male-dominated fields, the need to address the challenges faced by men in the current job market is becoming increasingly apparent.
Women’s Dominance in Job Creation
In the mid-1970s, women accounted for about 40% of U.S. jobs, excluding farm work and self-employment. By the early 2000s, this figure rose to nearly half, and now, women’s share of jobs occasionally surpasses 50%, as seen during the Great Recession, just before COVID-19, and currently.
Recent data from the Labor Department reveals significant progress for women in the labor market. Of the 369,000 jobs created since the start of Trump’s second term, an overwhelming 348,000 were filled by women, leaving only 21,000 for men. This translates to nearly 17 times more jobs for women than men.
This imbalance is largely due to the rapid expansion of the health care sector, where women hold close to 80% of the jobs. Over the past year, health care alone added 390,000 jobs, compensating for losses in other areas of the economy.
“If we want to see job growth that’s as robust for men as it is for women, we’re going to have to see men embracing those kinds of jobs,” Stevenson emphasizes.
Men’s Struggles in a Changing Workforce
Despite this growth, men have not significantly ventured into these female-dominated fields. Stevenson attributes this to men’s strong occupational identities, which can make transitions to new fields, particularly those dominated by women, challenging.
During his second term, Trump has consistently pushed the narrative that reviving the manufacturing sector is key to the nation’s strength. His administration has highlighted manufacturing job growth as evidence of economic progress, even though the sector remains down by 82,000 jobs since he took office.
“We have seen a year of a president absolutely fixated [on] growing the manufacturing sector,” Stevenson remarks. “There’s not enough of those jobs for men as a whole to thrive.”
Addressing Male Underrepresentation in Certain Fields
Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, argues that the lack of male representation in certain professions has long been overlooked. He believes that proactive measures are necessary to engage men in fields like nursing, teaching, and social work.
“Those are occupations that serve people, and they should look like the people that they serve,” Reeves asserts. “And it’s good for men because it means they won’t lose out on those jobs if that’s where the growth is coming from.”
Encouraging Men to Enter Growing Sectors
Stevenson suggests reframing job descriptions in rapidly growing sectors to make them more appealing to men. For instance, health care roles could be portrayed as requiring physical strength, while preschools could highlight the need for positive male role models.
“I think there are ways for us to talk about those jobs as being particularly masculine,” Stevenson suggests.
While some may find this approach controversial, Stevenson emphasizes the importance of helping men see caregiving roles as compatible with masculinity.
Persistent Challenges for Both Genders
Although women are currently leading in job growth, Stevenson cautions against assuming that gender equality has been achieved. Discrimination and occupational segregation continue to impede progress for both men and women.
For women, discrimination may hinder career advancement and contribute to the widening gender pay gap. Meanwhile, men may feel excluded from certain sectors, limiting their economic participation.
“I think we can use this moment to realize that discrimination, occupational segregation… these are things that harm all of us, not just one narrow group,” Stevenson concludes.
