As of early 2026, women now hold more payroll jobs than men in the U.S. for the first time outside of a recession and economists say this may be a lasting shift. A big reason is where the jobs are growing. There’s also been a long-term change in education: women now earn the majority of college degrees, giving them a growing advantage in many of the occupations expected to expand in coming years. The American workforce itself is changing, and women could continue to outnumber men on payrolls. Which gives a whole new meaning to the TikTok “stay-at-home boyfriend.”