WASHINGTON — While October saw job gains for both women and men, new data points to a continuing labor force disparity, according to a National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) analysis of monthly jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  

Despite gains in October, there are still 240,000 fewer women aged 20 and over in the labor force now than in January. In comparison, there are 287,000 more men in the labor force now than in January. 

“This week, voters sent a clear message that affordability, the economy, and jobs are their top priorities. But women are still being left behind in this labor market. While October brought some gains for women, it is still not enough growth to recuperate the monumental labor losses this year,” said Sarah Javaid, senior research analyst at NWLC. “The numbers continue to show a concerning trend where women are experiencing labor losses while men have greater gains. Voters showed up because of rising costs and stagnant wages, calling for a more inclusive economic agenda that uplifts working women and their families. Women shouldn’t be solely trying to regain their labor losses, they should be given the resources, opportunities, and economic freedom to thrive.” 

Additional stats of note: 

• The data released today shows that between January 2025 and September 2026, women lost 172,000 federal government jobs. Women make up 46.5% of the federal government workforce. 

• Nearly 1 in 4 unemployed women aged 16 and over have been looking for work for 6 months or longer (23.3%), including over 3 in 10 unemployed Asian women aged 16 and over (30.8%) and nearly 3 in 10 Black women aged 16 and over (27.2%). 

To speak with a NWLC expert, please contact Serena Zets at [email protected].  

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