Is the Recession a ‘Shecession’? Gender Inequality in the Employment Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany

Abstract

This paper evaluates gender inequality in employment risks during the first and the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. We use individual-level panel data collected weekly between 20 March and 9 July 2020, and again in January 2021, to examine the risks of short-time work, job loss and unpaid furlough, as well as having to work on-site by means of growth curve modelling. The results reveal gender inequality in employment risks and gendered use of governmental support schemes. During the early phase of the pandemic, women had a higher probability of being temporarily exempted from work, but a lower probability of being in short-time work and receiving the associated state benefits. Compared to men, women also continuously had a higher probability of working on-site rather that from home. Consequently, women’s employment during the pandemic is more polarized between job loss or working on-site with the associated infection risk. Gender inequalities are rooted in the long-term gendered dualization of the German labour market with the low-wage sector and marginal employment being female dominated. The results call for close monitoring of long-term gendered effects of the pandemic recession and an adjustment of governmental crisis measures to the requirements of the female workforce.

Has the COVID‐19 pandemic changed gender‐ and parental‐status‐specific differences in working from home? Panel evidence from Germany

“…The present study contributes to the literature in two important ways. First, by examining differences in the rate of remote working not only by gender but also by parental status, we extend the insights from previous research on this topic that did not differentiate between childless women and men and mothers and fathers (e.g., Arntz et al., 2020 ; Moehring, Weiland, et al., 2021 ; Moehring, Reifenscheid, & Weiland, 2021 ). Investigating the intersection between gender and parental status allows us to assess the extent to which gender differences in working from home hinge on the gendered nature of parenthood.…”

The division of child care during the coronavirus crisis in Germany: How did short-time work affect fathers' engagement?

“…Zoch et al (2021: 582), who analysed data from the NEPS Corona Study, noted that mothers were more likely than fathers to report that they were on unpaid leave. Möhring et al (2021b) also found that women were more likely than men to be on unpaid leave in March 2020, whereas the share of persons on unpaid leave rapidly declined over time (from 11 per cent in March to less than three per cent in May 2020). Furthermore, mothers tend to be more likely than fathers to reduce their working hours by taking advantage of child-related sick leave benefits ("Kinderkrankentage").…”

“…In addition, these jobs are considered precarious, as they do not provide workers with unemployment benefits or short-time work compensation. There is also some evidence that mothers took unpaid leave more frequently than fathers (Möhring et al 2021b;Zoch et al 2021). Zoch et al (2021: 582), who analysed data from the NEPS Corona Study, noted that mothers were more likely than fathers to report that they were on unpaid leave.…”

“…Unfortunately, there are no official statistics available that indicate to what degree parents made use of this leave programme, and whether there were differences by gender. 3 Sectors with collective agreements receive higher benefits (Möhring et al 2021b). As women primarily work in areas without collective agreements, they may be less likely to receive these "top-ups" (Hammerschmid et al 2020).…”

Neither Backlash Nor Convergence: Dynamics of Intracouple Childcare Division after the First Covid-19 Lockdown and Subsequent Reopening in Germany

“…In May 2020, 22 percent of male and 19 percent of female employees subject to social insurance contributions were in short-time work (Kruppe/Osiander, 2020). Moreover, mothers had higher odds of being suspended from work during the early phase of the lockdown than men (Möhring et al, 2021), and mothers were more strongly affected by the significant decline in [Table 5 about here]…”