According to an analysis by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) March employment report, one-third (80,000) of the new jobs added in February went to women while men gained 156,000. According to the BLS, job growth improved substantially in February compared to the previous month, with 236,000 jobs added to nonfarm payrolls.

Women’s employment growth in February was aided by strong growth in professional and business services (32,000 jobs added for women), education and health services (24,000 jobs added for women), retail trade (21,000 jobs added for women), and leisure and hospitality (10,000 jobs added for women). However, women lost 4,000 jobs in government in February.

IWPR analysis of the BLS payroll data shows as of February, women have regained 74 percent (2 million) of the total jobs they lost in the recession from December 2007 to the trough for women’s employment in September 2010 (2.7 million). Men have regained nearly 62 percent (3.8 million) of the jobs they lost between December 2007 and the trough for men’s employment in February 2010 (6 million). In the last year, from February 2012 to February 2013, of the 2 million jobs added to payrolls, 931,000 or 47 percent were filled by women, and 1,035,000 or 53 percent were filled by men. The gap between women’s and men’s employment is 1.8 million jobs in February, substantially less than at the start of the recession (3.4 million jobs in December 2007).

According to the household survey data reported by the BLS, the unemployment rate for women aged 16 and older decreased to 7.7 percent in February from 7.8 percent in January. The unemployment rate for men decreased from 8.0 percent in January to 7.8 percent in February. Among single mothers, the unemployment rate was 11.0 percent in February 2013 compared to 11.7 percent in February 2012. As of February, 12 million workers remain unemployed.

The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women and their families, promote public dialogue, and strengthen communities and societies. IWPR is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that also works in affiliation with the women's studies, and public policy and public administration programs at The George Washington University.