Category: Business

As of early 2026, women held more nonfarm payroll jobs than men in the United States. This has happened twice before — briefly during the Great Recession and again just before Covid — and both times it reversed. Laura Ullrich, a labor economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond who authored a new analysis through Indeed’s Hiring Lab, says this time is structurally different.

“It definitely doesn’t, to me, seem like the change has been driven by a recessionary period, which is what typically drives it,” she told Fortune. “This seems to be more of a long-term decline that’s led to more of a permanent shift going forward, or at least semi-permanent.”

The gender gap in labor force participation rate has also narrowed. The male rate has fallen nearly 20 points since tracking began in 1948, from 86.7% to 67.2% today. The female rate jumped from 32% to 57.2% in that span.

Both male and female participation rates are lower than they were in 2000. But men are falling off at a rate that dwarfs women’s decline. Right before Covid, the male labor force participation rate was 69.2%. It’s now 67.2% — a two-point drop. The female rate dropped just 0.6 points over the same period.

“It’s fewer men entering,” Ullrich said. “Younger men today are less likely to be working than their fathers were at that same age.”

“There has been more of a transition where parents are supporting their adult children for longer,” she said. “The data do show that more young adult men live with their parents than women. The wealth transfer from older generations to younger generations is part of that story.”

And then there are the partners. “Almost everybody you talk to will have a story” about supporting an unemployed man, Ullrich said, adding that what’s changed isn’t the dynamic itself, but the fact that it no longer carries the stigma it once did. The stay-at-home boyfriend, once a punchline, is now a statistically significant labor market phenomenon.

A landmark paper published in the Journal of Political Economy, first circulated through the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that roughly 70% of the hours young men aren’t working are being spent on video games and recreational computer use. The economists calculated that improvements in gaming technology since 2004 alone can explain nearly half the increase in young men’s leisure hours.

“I think that’s part of the story — the basement story,” Ullrich said.

The opioid epidemic compounded it, hitting non-college-educated men especially hard. And critically, men largely don’t qualify for government assistance programs like SNAP or TANF without a disability, meaning when they exit the workforce, the financial burden falls on whoever is closest to them.

Healthcare and social assistance, 78.9% female, added 1.8 million jobs between July 2023 and July 2025, accounting for more than half of all U.S. job growth during that period. But male-skewing sectors like manufacturing, tech, financial activities, and media have been stagnant or contracting.

Women have the training for the jobs that exist. As of 2023, 87% of nursing bachelor’s students were women. In speech-language pathology, a six-figure profession, 96.4% of master’s students are female. Medical schools have been majority-female since 2019.

“Women are the ones who have the training for these jobs,” Ullrich said. “The growth that’s happening in the economy in terms of jobs is happening in female-dominated sectors.”

The pipeline is female, the growth sectors are female, and the jobs most protected from AI displacement — caregiving, healthcare, in-person services — are female. The jobs most exposed to AI are disproportionately held by men.

So far, there’s little sign of that happening. The educational programs feeding the growth sectors are, if anything, becoming more female over time.

“If you look at that overall downward trend,” she said, “it’s just been on a downward trajectory.”

In February 2026, Thai exports grew by 9.9% year-on-year, reaching US$29.43 billion (912.56 billion baht). This marked the 20th consecutive month of expansion, primarily driven by the electronics and electrical appliances sectors, which have benefited from the global AI boom. 

Despite this growth and a strong performance in the first two months of the year, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) has issued a cautious outlook, warning that full-year exports could contract by as much as 3% due to rising freight costs, volatile energy prices, and a strengthening baht.

Key Takeaways

• Top Performers:
  • Industrial: Computers and components (+49.8%), telephone equipment (+217.7%), and radio/TV transmitters (+251.5%).
  • Agricultural/Food: Fresh fruits (+62.3%), processed chicken (+94%), and fats/oils (+271.1%).
• Major Markets: Shipments to the US surged by 40.5%, while exports to the EU (+20.6%) and ASEAN (+17.8%) also saw double-digit growth.
• Trade Balance: Despite export growth, imports rose sharply by 31.8% to US$32.27 billion, resulting in a US$2.83 billion trade deficit for the month. 
• Industrial product exports rose by 13.3%, led by significant surges in telephone equipment (217.7%), computer components (49.8%), and radio/television transmitters (251.5%).
• The agricultural and agro-industrial sectors saw a 5.7% decline, marking a second month of contraction, though high-potential items like processed chicken and fresh fruits recorded substantial gains.
• Key growth drivers include the global shift toward AI technology and supply-chain diversification, while pressure factors include high freight costs and price competition in agricultural commodities like rice.

Export growth was strongest in major markets such as the United States (40.5%) and the European Union (20.6%), while shipments to Russia and the CLMV region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam) declined.

Looking forward, the outlook for the remainder of 2026 remains cautious. The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) warns of potential contractions due to rising freight costs, energy price volatility, and currency appreciation. The full-year forecast ranges from a best-case growth of 1.1% to a worst-case contraction of 3%, depending on how these global economic pressures evolve.

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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Zayed International Airport, the primary gateway to Abu Dhabi and home base for Etihad Airways, remains open as of Saturday, March 28, 2026, but is functioning with significantly limited operations due to lingering effects of regional geopolitical tensions and recent rainy weather that has compounded flight delays across the UAE.

Travelers checking “Is Abu Dhabi Airport open right now?” should note that while the airport has resumed partial commercial services following earlier airspace closures tied to Middle East conflicts, passengers are strongly advised not to head to the terminals without a confirmed ticket and direct notification from their airline. Access remains restricted to confirmed travelers only, according to the official airport website.

The airport, formerly known as Abu Dhabi International Airport and now branded as Zayed International Airport (code: AUH), has been gradually rebuilding its schedule since early March. Full suspensions occurred in late February and early March 2026 amid airspace restrictions linked to escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Limited exceptional, priority and repatriation flights began resuming around March 2, with Etihad Airways restarting select commercial services by March 6.

As of late March, the airport is handling flights at roughly 40% to 70% of normal capacity, depending on the day and airline, according to multiple travel advisories and reports. Etihad, the flag carrier, is operating approximately 60-70 daily departures on key routes, focusing on major hubs such as London Heathrow, Paris, Mumbai, Bangkok and New York JFK where possible. However, many international carriers have reduced frequencies, rerouted services or suspended operations entirely until later in 2026. British Airways, for instance, has halted Abu Dhabi services through late October or beyond, while others like Lufthansa and several Indian carriers have implemented temporary cuts or full refunds for affected bookings.

Recent rainy weather on March 26 further disrupted recovery efforts in Abu Dhabi and neighboring Dubai, leading to additional delays and cancellations even as limited schedules resumed. Airports across the UAE, including Zayed International, shifted to carefully controlled operations with significant delays reported on both departures and arrivals. Smaller UAE airports have shown partial recovery but remain unstable, prompting broad advisories for travelers to verify details directly with airlines.

Live flight tracking platforms such as Flightradar24 and the airport’s own departures board show a mix of activity. Early Saturday morning departures included Etihad flights to Paris (EY031) that operated, while others like a service to Amsterdam were listed as cancelled in sample data. Arrivals and departures reflect a thinned-out schedule, with many flights still subject to last-minute changes. The official Zayed International Airport website prominently displays a notice: “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport unless they hold a confirmed ticket and have been explicitly advised by their airline to do so.”

Etihad Airways has emphasized in updates that its current flight program is fluid. The airline recommends checking etihad.com for the latest status, ensuring contact details are current for rebooking notifications, and avoiding the airport without explicit confirmation. Some repositioning, cargo and humanitarian flights continue under strict safety approvals coordinated with UAE authorities.

The disruptions trace back to airspace closures starting around Feb. 28, 2026, following reported military actions in the region. Over 4,000 daily flights were affected across Gulf hubs at the peak, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers globally. Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed faced full or near-full halts initially, with phased reopenings prioritizing safety corridors. By mid-March, operations had improved to low-to-moderate disruption levels on remaining flights, though capacity constraints persist due to ongoing security considerations and fragile recovery.

Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator, confirmed partial resumption on March 2 in coordination with authorities and partners. The airport, one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing hubs with its modern Terminal A, has focused resources on essential connectivity while maintaining heightened security protocols. Prayer times and passenger services like the Airport Express bus to Dubai and Salam Meet & Assist remain available for those cleared to travel.

For passengers with existing bookings, options include rebooking on available limited services, seeking refunds where suspensions apply, or exploring alternative routings through less-affected airports. Travel experts recommend monitoring official sources closely: the Zayed International Airport website (zayedinternationalairport.ae), Etihad’s flight status page, and global trackers like FlightAware or Skyscanner. Apps from the airport and airline provide real-time updates on gates, immigration and baggage.

The situation highlights the vulnerability of Gulf aviation to regional events. The UAE, a major transit and tourism hub, has seen its connectivity impacted, affecting business travelers, tourists and expatriates. Visit Abu Dhabi tourism authorities note that while the airport is operational, visitors should confirm entry requirements and flight viability before planning trips. Broader Middle East airspace advisories continue to influence long-haul carriers from Europe, Asia and North America.

Looking ahead, full normalization depends on stabilizing regional airspace and weather patterns. Aviation analysts expect a gradual ramp-up in April, but caution that schedules could shift rapidly. Some routes, particularly to certain European and Asian cities, may take months to restore completely.

Travelers affected by cancellations should contact their airlines promptly for reprotection or refunds. Insurance holders are urged to review policies for disruption coverage. Those transiting through Abu Dhabi should build in extra buffer time given potential delays even on operating flights.

Zayed International Airport continues to prioritize safety and passenger well-being. With its state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced check-in and duty-free options when operational, the airport aims to return to its status as a premium hub once conditions allow.

In summary, yes — Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport is open right now, but with constrained services, ongoing advisories and a strong recommendation to verify every detail before travel. The evolving nature of both geopolitical and weather-related factors means constant monitoring is essential for anyone planning flights to, from or through AUH in the coming days and weeks.