According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and a report of the National Women’s Law Center, Asian American women have the highest long-term unemployment rates during the last six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to 40.8 percent of unemployed black women and 38.3 percent of unemployed Latina women, 44 percent of jobless Asian American women did not work for at least six months. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the unemployment rates of women of all races; however, Asian American women have the highest percentage.
Reasons for the high percentage of the long-term unemployment of Asian American women include racism and family care. A UCLA report conveyed that anti-Asian racism might have caused the high long-term unemployment rate because the increase in discrimination of Asians due to the COVID-19 had negatively impacted businesses, employers, and workers financially and commercially. Another factor for the high percentage of long-term unemployed Asian American women is the demand for taking care of children and elders. Since children are learning remotely and child care centers are closed, many Asian American mothers had to sacrifice their work to take care of children. Due to quarantine, Asian American women had to take care of their aging parents at home too.
Financial and commerce problems of workplaces, anti-Asian racism, and family responsibilities might have led to Asian American women having the highest percentage of unemployment for the last six months or more. The high long-term unemployment rate indicates that women of the Asian communities are having little to no income. Since racism is a factor in the high jobless rate of Asian American women, it is essential to stop and prevent Asian discrimination from worsening the circumstances and raising the unemployment rate.