The Nordic Consulates in Chicago invite you to an hour of thought-provoking information about how most parents struggle to make the family puzzle pieces fit together, and at the same time they often face gender stereotypes. This has become even more apparent during the pandemic as many are working from home and others have decided to focus entirely on the family.

The New York Times pointed out in a January 8 article that “The people who have left the work force have not been replaced” indicating that some left their jobs and that policymakers are now worried that they may not return. The employment rate in the US has dropped nearly 2 % from a year ago, and four times as many women have left the work force than men (CBS news Chicago on February 4). Some believe that some of the progress made by women over the last few decades have now been reversed.

Like the rest of the world the five Nordic countries were hit hard by the pandemic, but it has not impacted the work force participation to the same extent as in the US.

The five Nordic countries have also performed well in country-by-country comparisons lately and have become known for their happiness, equality and a sustainable lifestyle. Family friendly policies, such as parental leave, free education and free health care for all contribute to positive economic outcomes such as high rate of employment, high percentage of women in leadership roles, health and longevity. All of these factors helped ensure a continued high work force participation during the pandemic.

Reservations can be made by emailing chicago@consulateofsweden.org