Why So Many Women Are Quitting the Workforce
Published on December 23, 2025
The Numbers Behind the Firings: Women Are Leaving the Workforce
The jobs report that cost BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer her job tells a troubling story — and it's one that directly affects our community.
Since January, women ages 20 and over have left the workforce in significant numbers, while 44,000 men have entered it over the same period. The numbers mark a sharp reversal of recent trends that had seen more women — especially mothers of young children — finding and keeping full-time jobs.
Why are women leaving the workforce in 2025?
Among women ages 25 to 44 living with a child under five, labor force participation fell nearly three percentage points between January and June, from 69.7% to 66.9% — a dramatic reversal after strong gains in 2022, 2023, and 2024, when flexible work policies helped women enter and stay in the workforce.
The driving forces? A wave of return-to-office mandates, a significant decline in federal childcare funding, and rising childcare costs are leaving many families without viable options.
This is the data that was deemed inconvenient. This is why it matters. Read Time's full report: Why So Many Women Are Quitting the Workforce.