The latest data from the US government shows an unusual trend: between January and July 2025, 212,000 women exited the labor market, while 44,000 men entered it.
This trend is striking at a time when more and more educated and successful women are reconsidering their relationship with their careers.
In an article for the New York Times, journalist Issie Lapowsky explains a new phenomenon that is being called the “power break” – a wave of successful women who, after years of intensive work and career pursuits, are choosing to leave their jobs or work part-time.
Although many people do not have the financial luxury of not working, studies in recent years show a significant increase in women considering leaving work or reducing their hours since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Journalist Katty Kay interviewed Lapowsky to gain a deeper understanding of what lies behind this significant decision for women and the job market.
" I don't want another nanny. I want my own moments"
Lapowsky emphasizes that this is not a story about women who are forced to leave due to lack of childcare or layoffs – but about those who chose to leave themselves, after reaching a high professional level.
“These were women who made a conscious choice for themselves,” she said.
Some wanted more time with their children, others wanted to build something of their own, or explore a completely different life.
One of the women she interviewed, despite having sufficient financial means and assistance, said:
"I don't want another nanny. I want my own moments."
So, it wasn't a matter of inability to balance work and life, but a conscious shift in priorities.
A consequence of the ongoing pandemic
Lapowsky links this wave of departures to the profound impact of the pandemic:
“When the pandemic hit, I was a young mother, with no help. As I reported on women being laid off by the millions, I thought to myself: I love what I'm experiencing with my child. I can imagine myself doing this full-time.”
She wondered how many of those "forced to leave" women are actually choosing to stay home, having tried a different lifestyle during isolation.
And the data supports this:
Since the pandemic, there has been a surge in women identifying as stay-at-home moms.
The number of women working part-time from home has also increased.
A study by McKinsey and LeanIn found that female executives – with or without children – are leaving companies at record levels.
Lapowsky says the combination of remote work, new flexibility, moving away from cities and more time with family has led many women – and especially those in senior positions – to reevaluate their lives.
Long-term consequences for women's advancement in the workplace
This trend raises important questions about the future of gender equality in the workplace.
If more and more women are choosing to leave their careers, what will happen to their representation in leadership, decision-making, and the economy of the future?
The answer is complicated, but one thing is clear:
Women are not leaving work because they can't – they are leaving because they are choosing differently.
And this is a powerful signal for society and the way we think about work, success, and personal life.
