Effects of the corona crisis on family and working life

The severe recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with unequal employment and income risks for women and men. This could impact gender equality. On the one hand, women are strongly represented in some essential sectors and services, such as care and education. On the other hand, they are more often than men employed in economic sectors that are particularly affected by contact restrictions, such as hotels and restaurants. Moreover, in many constellations, the distribution of employment and care work between women and men had to be renegotiated due to the (at least temporary) closure of childcare facilities and schools. Against this background, this report sheds light on recent changes in Germany that are relevant to gender equality and that have become apparent in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as on policy measures to cushion the resulting problems in terms of gender equality. On this basis, concrete policy options are discussed that could be used to counteract potentially lasting regressions in gender equality on the labor market and within families, or that could help to ensure a more even distribution of economic and social risks in future crisis situations.