Commentary Lockdowns and quarantines in 2020 had a disproportionate impact on women. Though some saw bias, the main problem was that services suffered most in that environment, and women dominate employment in this area. Now the post-pandemic recovery has disproportionately benefited services and presumably women’s employment prospects, but many who had worked before the pandemic seem uninterested in the unfolding opportunities. These women have remained outside the workforce, neither working nor seeking paid positions. Their decision seems to reflect a rather subtle calculation, but whatever their reasons, the pattern is worrisome—for the longer a person remains outside the workforce, the more difficulty she will have securing a job should she need one. Certainly, today’s labor market offers plenty of job options. Stories of labor shortages, especially in services, crowd the headlines. A walk down any main street in the country reveals a plethora of “Help Wanted” signs. Still, many women …