The stay-at-home boyfriend is now an economic trend as more women than men go to work
It is likely you know a woman who is financially supporting an unemployed man, or perhaps you have been in that situation yourself. What was once considered a private embarrassment has evolved into a noteworthy macroeconomic trend, as evidenced by data from the Federal Reserve.
As of early 2026, women outnumbered men in nonfarm payroll jobs within the United States. This phenomenon has occurred on two previous occasions—briefly during the Great Recession and again just prior to the Covid pandemic—yet both instances saw a reversal. According to Laura Ullrich, a labor economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, who conducted a new analysis via Indeed’s Hiring Lab, the current scenario is fundamentally different.
“It definitely doesn’t, to me, seem like the change has been driven by a recessionary period, which is what typically drives it,” she stated in an interview with Fortune. “This seems to be more of a long-term decline that’s led to more of a permanent shift going forward, or at least semi-permanent.”
The gap by the numbers
In the early 1990s, men were employed in nearly 7 million more jobs than women. Over the past three decades, this gap has steadily diminished, dissolving completely. This trend has further progressed in the last year.
In the past 12 months, the number of jobs held by men decreased by a net 142,000, while women experienced an increase of 298,000. Of the 1.2 million jobs added between February 2024 and February 2026, approximately two-thirds were filled by women.
The labor force participation rate by gender has also experienced a significant shift. The male participation rate has decreased by nearly 20 points since tracking began in 1948, from 86.7% to the current 67.2%. Conversely, the female participation rate has increased from 32% to 57.2% during this time.
It’s not women entering, it’s men leaving
This narrative introduces an intriguing complexity.
Both male and female participation rates are now lower than they were in 2000, but the decline among men is significantly more pronounced than that of women. Prior to the Covid pandemic, the male labor force participation rate stood at 69.2%, which has since dropped to 67.2%—a two-point decline. In contrast, the female participation rate saw only a modest drop of 0.6 points over the same timeframe.
“It’s fewer men entering,” Ullrich noted. “Younger men today are less likely to be working than their fathers were at that same age.”
So, who is providing support for these men?
“There has been more of a transition where parents are supporting their adult children for longer,” Ullrich explained. “The data indicate that a greater number of young adult men live with their parents compared to young women. This wealth transfer from older generations to younger generations is an essential aspect of the situation.”
The dynamics also extend to partners. Ullrich pointed out, “Almost everybody you talk to will have a story” about supporting an unemployed man, highlighting that while the dynamic hasn’t changed, the stigma surrounding it has diminished. The once-derided 'stay-at-home boyfriend' has emerged as a notable component of the labor market.
A significant study published in the Journal of Political Economy, originally circulated through the National Bureau of Economic Research, revealed that roughly 70% of the hours young men are not working are devoted to video games and recreational computer use. The economists noted that advancements in gaming technology since 2004 account for nearly half of the increase in leisure hours for young men.
“I think that’s part of the story — the basement story,” Ullrich commented.
Additionally, the opioid epidemic has further exacerbated this situation, particularly impacting non-college-educated men and adversely affecting their employment prospects.
Women now stand as an increasingly influential force in economic activities and decision-making roles, signifying a monumental change in the labor market landscape.
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