President Donald Trump recently celebrated a job report indicating that U.S. employers have added jobs for three consecutive months, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The report, described as “excellent” by Trump, noted an increase of 172,000 jobs last month, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.3%. There were about 7.3 million people unemployed, a number that hasn’t changed significantly in recent weeks. The labor force participation rate remained consistent at 61.8%.
Total employment growth for March and April was adjusted upward by 29,000 and 64,000, respectively.
Gus Faucher, chief economist at PNC, commented on the situation, noting that “despite higher energy prices and overall inflation, the labor market is showing stronger performance compared to last year and is still quite robust.” He also mentioned that there’s no clear need for external support in the labor market.
However, behind this seemingly healthy labor market, two concerning trends are emerging. It appears the majority of new jobs are being filled by women, while a significant number of men are stepping away from the job search.
Jason Riley, a senior research fellow at the Manhattan Institute, pointed out that “The share of American men in the labor force has reached a record low.” Recent labor data showed that roughly one in three men were neither employed nor actively seeking work.
Declines in male labor force participation rates have been pronounced over the last few decades. In fact, the labor force participation rate for men was at 87% in 1948, dropped to 75% in 2000, and now sits at about 67.2% as of May.
Riley expressed concern over the ongoing departure of millions of capable men from the workforce, paired with the growing number of retiring baby boomers and a noticeable drop in immigration. He noted that these trends could result in significant challenges for the country.
Various factors contribute to these trends: the mass retirement of the baby boomer generation, young individuals opting to pursue education instead of work, diminishing job prospects for non-university-educated men, and health issues affecting men in their working years. In fact, The Washington Post recently highlighted that job openings have become increasingly concentrated in fields often dominated by women, like health care and education. Simultaneously, some traditionally male-dominated sectors, such as manufacturing and transportation, are reducing in employment opportunities, leading to a discrepancy between men’s skill sets and available jobs.
This marks a noteworthy shift regarding women’s roles in the workforce.
In the mid-1970s, women accounted for around 40% of U.S. jobs (excluding agricultural and self-employment); today, they now hold more than half of all positions.
NPR “Morning Edition” reported that out of approximately 369,000 jobs created since the start of Trump’s second term until April, 348,000 went to women, while just 21,000 were filled by men. In simpler terms, that’s about 94% of new jobs going to women and only 6% to men.
According to Labor Department spokesperson Courtney Parella, while the raw numbers may seem misleading, both genders are benefiting from a robust economy.
Women now dominate the majority of new salaried positions, partly due to expansion in sectors like health care and social assistance, where they hold roughly 80% of the roles.
