The Complexity of the Covid-19 Crisis and the Fragility of the Mexican Labor Market. The Gap between Men and Women in Employment, Unemployment and Availability for Work

Abstract

The implementation of Covid-19 control measures in Mexico has significantly impacted the conditions, characteristics, and entry-exit processes of the Mexican labor market, impacting millions of people's situations and expectations, especially on women’ outcomes. This article aims to review and describe the labor dynamics before the onset of the pandemic and after the most restrictive sanitary measures were softened. It analyzes the conditions and entry-exit processes of the women and men employed (both formal and informal), unemployed, available, or unavailable for work population of working age. It endeavors to identify which features, both individual and at the household level, determine belonging to any of the categories mentioned above. It uses data from four sources and applies descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, constructing a multinomial logistic regression model. The most remarkable changes are observed in the increase in the population that is available to work with patterns differentiated by gender, which are observed in the exit patterns from formal and informal job, along with a greater probability of being unavailable for women living with children.