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Cost of Living

COVID-19 is causing a "she-cession"

The economic downturn caused by COVID-19 is having a pronounced effect on women. Hear from service sector workers who have been laid off and a labour economist about the challenges still ahead for recovery.

Female workers are bearing the brunt of the economic downturn

CBC Radio ·
Women in Brooklyn's Sunset Park, a neighborhood with one of the city's largest Mexican and Hispanic community, wear masks to help stop the spread of coronavirus while waiting in line to enter a store, Tuesday May 5, 2020, in New York. A poll found that 61% of Hispanic Americans say they've experienced some kind of household income loss as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. (Bebeto Matthews/The Associated Press)
Cost of Living9:31How COVID-19 is causing a 'she'-cession

The economic downturn caused by COVID-19 is affecting women particularly hard.

Experts are calling it a "she-cession" because of how female workers are bearing the brunt of job losses, unlike previous recessions. That is compounded with things like school and daycare closures.

  • CBC Radio's business and economics show, Cost of Living, is in a new time slot on CBC Radio One due to the coronavirus pandemic. Catch it Fridays at 1:30 p.m. (2 p.m. NT), Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. or online anytime at CBC Listen.

Host Paul Haavardsrud talks to two service sector workers who have been laid off about how the pandemic has affected them and the industries where they work, and speaks to labour economist Tammy Schirle about the challenges still ahead for recovery.

Click "listen" at the top of the page to hear this segment, or download the Cost of Living podcast.

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