Data shows women are struggling more than men during pandemic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The pandemic has caused hundreds of thousands of Americans to lose their job, but the numbers show it's been especially hard on women.

According to the organization Lean In, recently released government data shows women dropped out of the work force nearly eight times more than men just last month as COVID-19 continues to take hits on the U.S. economy.

To break it down further, 617,000 women left the labor force last month compared to 78,000 men. That's data from as recent as last Friday.

The countrywide jobless rate remains at 8% for women in America as of last month. So why the low numbers? Studies show, industries that tend to employ a lot of women such as leisure and hospitality have been hit hard during the pandemic.

Some women also point to added responsibilities at home like virtual schooling, that have them leaving their jobs. Some worry if this trend continues, this could worsen the gender gap.

"If it's bad for women in corporate America, it's worse for women outside of corporate America because corporate America has generally more support in place," said Lean In CEO Rachel Thomas. "There are fewer women in the workplace already, particularly up in the higher ranks of leadership. If those women leave, we've got a real problem on our hands."

The lack of childcare options in the coronavirus age has also contributed to many women losing their jobs. Experts say, until those options are available, it'll be tough for many women to go back to work.

Video: Coronavirus adding extra pressure on working women