New dashboard to provide updated data alongside the monthly jobs report release

Today, the Department of Commerce’s Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs (OUSEA) is announcing a new spotlight on women and the labor force. The dashboard will reflect new data each month, alongside the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly release on the employment situation .

“The Department’s new dashboard demonstrates the power of data to uncover unique insights into women’s participation in the workforce and the economic impact,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Building upon our understanding of women’s labor participation through data, we will ultimately help bring more women into the workforce and advance a more inclusive and productive economy.”

While the unemployment rate has remained low and jobs recovery has remained strong, there are still persistent gender disparities within the American labor market. Women, comprising over half of the United States’ population, have had historically lower labor force participation rates than men. This is true even today, despite the current labor shortage and exceptional demand for workers.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey suggest that one of the largest obstacles to achieving similar labor force participation rates between men and women are women’s disproportionate caregiving responsibilities.

Equity remains at the heart of the Commerce Department’s mission. This dashboard will serve as a monthly data-driven reminder that more must be done as we build towards sustainable, employer-driven career pathways to meet employers’ need for talent and connect all Americans to quality jobs.