Policy Hub
A report published on 10 March 2010 by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) argues that deep public spending cuts could well lead to heavy job losses for women as well as substantially reducing their income in retirement. The report warns that early public spending cuts are likely to hit female employment the hardest because around four in ten women work in public sector occupations, compared to less than two in ten men.
The report notes that female unemployment increased by 1.9% during the recent recession compared to 3.4% for men - a far smaller difference than previous recessions. During the early 1990s recession male unemployment increased at nearly five times the rate recorded for female job losses.
The report shows how female unemployment during the recession has varied greatly between regions. Yorkshire and the Humber has had the biggest increase in women's unemployment since the start of the recession at 3.1%, followed by London at 2.8% and Wales at 2.2%. London is the only area of the UK where female unemployment has increased more quickly than men's.
The report shows that many areas with a high proportion of female public sector workers also have higher than average male unemployment rates, so spending cuts could leave many families with both parents out of work.