What is the gender gap in labor force participation? The trend continued over the last year, Ullrich said, pointing to labor force participation rate data from the Federal Reserve. The gender gap in labor force participation rate has also narrowed. Right before Covid, the male labor force participation rate was 69.2%. As Ullrich put it, the trend in the labor force participation gap shows no post-recession bounce, no cyclical correction, no historical parallel to prior reversals.