Round Table China The rising female labor force exodus
8 snips
Aug 12, 2025 The podcast highlights the troubling trend of women leaving the workforce, linking it to the pandemic's aftermath and childcare challenges. It discusses alarming statistics, including a significant drop in women's labor participation in both the U.S. and China. With return-to-office mandates threatening flexibility, the conversation turns to the urgent need for supportive policies. Unique challenges or recurring barriers? The hosts explore this pressing issue while emphasizing the broader economic implications of women's exit from the workforce.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From She‑cession To She‑Exit
- Steve Hatherly says women left at four times the rate of men during the pandemic shock and early school closures.
- He adds that post‑pandemic gains from remote work stalled and over 200,000 women exited again in 2025.
Return-To-Office Drives Female Attrition
- Yu Shan reports major firms like Amazon, Dell, and JPMorgan have ordered employees back four to five days a week.
- She warns these mandates disproportionately force mothers to quit when childcare gaps persist.
Nordic Policies Maintain High Female Participation
- Steve Hatherly points to Sweden and Iceland using paid parental leave and subsidized childcare to sustain high female labor participation.
- He argues that shared leave and affordable childcare, not culture alone, enable parents to stay attached to work.