Question

Only last month did the men's and women's unemployment rates reach the same ______.

Answer 1

Historical unemployment rates show a trend from higher women's unemployment to periods where men's rates were higher, but the overall gap has narrowed, with significant lows in unemployment during the late 1990s and mid-2000s.

Step-by-step explanation:

The historical analysis of unemployment rates reveals a pattern where women's unemployment was often higher than that of men. This difference was attributed to the perception of women as 'secondary' earners. Since around 1980, the rates have leveled, and there have been periods where men's unemployment exceeded women's, such as during the 2008-2009 recession and the 2020 pandemic-induced recession. Despite these fluctuations, the overall trend suggests a narrowing gap in unemployment between genders.

Specifically, the data indicates that in the late 1990s and mid-2000s, unemployment was historically low, often below 5%. These dips in unemployment rates are notable exceptions to the overall trends. Further, forecasts by entities such as the Congressional Budget Office anticipated a return to lower unemployment rates post-recession, pointing towards an improving economy and job market over time.

Answer 2

Only last month did the men's and women's unemployment rates reach the same level.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sentence is talking about unemployment and the comparison between men and women in this area. So, the correct word to indicate that unemployment is equal for men and women is level. Also, as we are talking about rates, which is a word that we use when we talk about statistics and to describe graphics, the word that best fits with this topic is level.