Women Exiting Workforce at Accelerating Pace

New research from Catalyst shows that more than 455,000 women left the U.S. workforce in 2025, with a majority making the decision for themselves. Difficulty balancing caregiving responsibilities, inflexibility in positions, and weak wages that failed to keep up with the cost of getting to work were the most frequently-named reasons. Women in Catalyst's survey did not lack ambition or desire; instead, they were responding practically to conditions. “These women are forced to choose between those who depend on them and their careers, and they’re not going to abandon the people who need them most. Companies shouldn’t abandon women either," said Catalyst Vice President Joy Ohm.

Read more here: https://www.catalyst.org/about/newsroom/2026/caregiving-pressures-women-workforce.