How are women entrepreneurs faring in the pandemic’s economic wake?

The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for the economy. That has been especially true for women in the workforce. More than 2 million women left the workforce in 2020, putting women’s participation in the labor market at its lowest level since 1988, according to NPR.

Monday is International Women’s Day. At 11 a.m., host Angela Davis talks with the new CEO of WomenVenture, a Minneapolis-based organization that supports women entrepreneurs, about the effect of the pandemic on women-owned businesses.

Davis also talks with MPR News reporter Jon Collins on what Gov. Tim Walz has called “the most important trial in the country” — the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for his role in the May 2020 killing of George Floyd. He died after Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes during an arrest.

As she does every Monday, Davis checks in with MPR News senior economics contributor Chris Farrell on the state of the economy.

Guests:

• Jon Collins is an MPR News reporter covering the Derek Chauvin trial.

• Erin Horne McKinney is the CEO of WomenVenture, a Minneapolis-based organization that supports women entrepreneurs.

• Julie Steller is the owner of Steller Handcrafted Goods, a handmade clothing and accessories company with a Scandinavian twist.

• Chris Farrell is a senior economics contributor for MPR News.

Use the audio player above to listen to the program.

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