Here's why this summer's jobs reports might seem underwhelming

The jobs recovery has slowed since last year's buoyant rebound. And now a summer lull may be upon us before the return to in-person schooling in September allows more people to return to work.

Parents — especially mothers — have been hit hard by the pandemic as they juggled caring for children and simultaneously working at home. As offices reopen this summer, the child care challenge is still keeping some parents from returning to commutes and in-person work. School closures play a large part in how differently the pandemic has affected men and women when it comes to dropping out of the labor force, said Luke Pardue, economist at human resource management firm Gusto.