During the pandemic, mothers saw a dramatic increase in workforce participation levels. however, since the beginning of 2025, those levels have seen continuous declines eliminating their pandemic gains.

Americans 24 and younger are helping drive the trend.

Friday’s jobs report showed the percentage of working age people in a job or looking for one was holding at 62.7% last month.

New research finds that more women entering clerical work during World War I changed gender norms for years to come.

So-called “prime age” workers, those 25 to 54, are working jobs at a higher rate than before the pandemic. But the picture gets more complex for older workers.

The growth was largely driven by working mothers. Flexible and remote jobs help, but the expiration of child care relief funds may hurt.

The participation rate, which includes people actively looking for jobs, rose in August for those 55 and older, women, teenagers and others.

Millions of women left the workforce early in the pandemic. The strong job market and flexible working conditions have brought many back.

The ratio covers people 25 to 54 years old. The strong participation means employers looking to hire may have a hard time finding workers.

Growth in the number of people looking for work means the unemployment rate is rising for the right reasons, one economist says.