Thread by @19thnews

🧵 January job numbers are out.

Black and Asian women's unemployment rose in January, while Latina unemployment continues to be among the highest in the country.

White women saw a decrease in their unemployment rate. bit.ly/3jtbWJ6

According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday, unemployment data shows:

— White women are at 5.1%, down from 5.7%
— Black women saw an increase to 8.5% (8.4% in December) bit.ly/3jtbWJ6

— Asian women, for whom the data is not seasonally adjusted because the sample size is much smaller, saw a rise to 7.9% from 6.6%.

— Latinas saw a decrease, from 9.1 to 8.8%, but their unemployment rate continues to be among the highest of any group. bit.ly/3jtbWJ6

Asian women and Latinas are more likely to be the household's secondary earner and primary caregiver.

That means that those groups are particularly susceptible to the child care challenges that have come to define this recession. bit.ly/3l1GIIi

Women dominate the jobs most vulnerable to coronavirus closures — fields like hospitality and care work — and they are also bearing an outsized care burden at home.

As a result, millions have left the workforce — and about 275K women left last month alone.bit.ly/3jtbWJ6

Overall, the economy added just 49,000 jobs in January.

It's the weakest month of growth since the economy started adding jobs back in May 2020. bit.ly/3jtbWJ6

In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics revised figures from December, when it originally reported a drop of about 140,000 net jobs — all of which was driven by losses in women's employment — to a decline of 227,000. bit.ly/35kY0Lc

That means that women in fact made up 86% of all the net losses in December, instead of 100%. And in January, their gains in employment helped drive all of the net increases.

But that doesn't mean women are faring better. bit.ly/3jtbWJ6

Women still make up about 54% of all the net job losses since February 2020, according to data analysis by the @NWLC.

Less than half of the more than 12 million jobs women lost between February and April alone have returned. bit.ly/3jtbWJ6

January's numbers come at a critical time. Congress is considering a $1.9 trillion proposal from President Biden to help revive the economy.

If enacted, it could provide wide-ranging relief to millions of women workers. bit.ly/35J7ekF

The Senate approved a budget bill on Friday that opens a path to passage for much of Biden's plan.

— $1,400 stimulus checks
— Expansion of paid sick leave
— Extended eviction moratorium

*️⃣ An increase on the federal minimum wage did not make it through. nytimes.com/2021/02/04/us/…

A @USCBO report released this week projects that the economy won't return to pre-pandemic unemployment rates until 2024.

"We desperately need Congress to act on a rescue package," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a statement.

More from @ChabeliH: bit.ly/3jtbWJ6