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Physical proximity and occupational employment change by gender during the COVID-19 pandemic

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  • Jacqueline Mosomi
  • Amy Thornton

Abstract

Previous economic downturns such as the 2008-09 Global Financial Crisis disproportionately affected male employment due to greater contractions in industries typically filled by men (e.g., manufacturing). However, after the imposition of the 'hard' COVID-19 lockdown between 2020 quarter 1 and 2 in South Africa, both men and women lost about a million jobs. We show a higher ratio of female-to-male job loss in the 2020 recession compared to 2008-09 is partly explained by South African women's clustering in occupations high in physical proximity (e.g., services).

Suggested Citation

  • Jacqueline Mosomi & Amy Thornton, 2022. "Physical proximity and occupational employment change by gender during the COVID-19 pandemic," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-90, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2022-90
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    7. Handel, Michael J., 2016. "The O-NET content model: strengths and limitations," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 49(2), pages 157-176.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

    COVID-19; Gender; Employment; Lockdown; Pandemic;
    All these keywords.

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