The death of millions of men of working age during the First World War had significant social and economic effects in Europe. With the male workforce decimated, traditional gender roles were challenged as women stepped in to fill jobs in factories, workshops, and offices that were previously considered male domains. This was a major step towards women's economic independence and contributed to the success of suffrage movements. Economically, the loss of a large part of the workforce reduced household incomes in the post-war years. It also led to a restructuring of the workforce and increased the demand for labour-saving technologies. The demographic shift created a social imbalance and left a lasting psychological scar on the continent.