Professor Alan Gin Weighs in on Pandemic's Disproportionate Economic Impact on Women

The COVID-19 pandemic has had drastic impacts on employment in the U.S. with unemployment rates reaching their highest levels since the Great Depression. Now, local economists are saying that women have been disproportionately impacted, suffering greater rates of unemployment than men. One such economist is USD School of Business Associate Professor of Economics Alan Gin, who states that women will face long-term negative impacts in pay if they have to "stay out of the workforce for a long period of time to provide childcare and education."

Dr. Silvia Mah, director of the Center for Peace and Commerce, a partnership between the Kroc School of Peace Studies and the USD School of Business, was also cited saying that the pandemic's impact on the gender pay gap is real but unquantifiable at this point.

Excerpt as it appears in NBC San Diego:

More Women Facing Unemployment Than Men Since Pandemic

Dr. Alan Gin, Ph.D, an economist and professor at the University of San Diego, said the disproportionate impact on women will likely widen the gender pay gap.

“A lot of the jobs lost were held by women,” said Gin. “Particularly jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry.”

This recession, unlike others, is more demanding of women since children are learning from home, Gin said.

“We have made a lot of progress and I think more men are taking on that role, but it’s still primarily the job of women,” said Gin. “I think it’s going to (affect the gender pay gap) because one thing that influences the pay gap is experience, so if women have to stay out of the workforce for a long period of time to provide childcare and education then that will hurt them in terms of earning in the future which will then widen the pay gap.”