The Pink-Collar Economy Is Here | Diving In

Think Like An Economist

Since the start of President Trump’s second term, women have received 86% of net new payroll jobs and now hold slightly more non-farm payroll jobs than men. In this episode, Justin Wolfers explains why that shift is happening and what it says about our modern U.S. economy.  This trend is not driven by employers suddenly preferring women over men, but by which parts of the economy are actually growing. The industries adding jobs are disproportionately female-heavy – especially healthcare and education. Nevertheless, much of our economic policy continues to center an outdated image of work: factory floors, hard hats, and a romanticized industrial past. But if policy keeps looking backward, it will miss where real opportunity is being created. And if leaders steer training, subsidies, and political attention toward yesterday's jobs instead of tomorrow's, workers will be left less prepared for the labor market that actually exists. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlatypusEconomics  Subscribe on Substack: https://newsletter.platypuseconomics.com/ Follow on Social Media @PlatypusEconomics and @JustinWolfers
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Since the start of President Trump’s second term, women have received 86% of net new payroll jobs and now hold slightly more non-farm payroll jobs than men. In this episode, Justin Wolfers explains why that shift is happening and what it says about our modern U.S. economy.  This trend is not driven by employers suddenly preferring women over men, but by which parts of the economy are actually growing. The industries adding jobs are disproportionately female-heavy – especially healthcare and education. Nevertheless, much of our economic policy continues to center an outdated image of work: factory floors, hard hats, and a romanticized industrial past. But if policy keeps looking backward, it will miss where real opportunity is being created. And if leaders steer training, subsidies, and political attention toward yesterday's jobs instead of tomorrow's, workers will be left less prepared for the labor market that actually exists. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlatypusEconomics  Subscribe on Substack: https://newsletter.platypuseconomics.com/ Follow on Social Media @PlatypusEconomics and @JustinWolfers
2026-06-03 13 min Transcript
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