Women's unemployment

[aliceliddell]

Female unemployment is now highest since 1988. Probably worse to come because public sector jobs are often women's jobs, so cuts hit women harder. Plus, those unemployed women can now do that work, like day care for elders, for free at home now the day centres are closed. Fabulous. Who voted for this? Really?

[AliceWyrld]

It was almost like they planned it this way, wasn't it Alice

[EdithWeston]

The ray of hope is that one month's stats can prove to be a blip. This is one to watch - if it persists for another couple of months it will be worrying.

[TheFarSide]

I'm one of those newly redundant public sector employees. I was earning £30k as a careers adviser, and I'm now looking at jobs in education paying less than £20k (if I'm lucky enough to get a job). I think this is a terrifying trend for women, especially those of us who are heading rapidly towards 50.

[aliceliddell]

Using - This rally. Is it commemorating any particular date? Any chance of a reinactment?

[TheFeministsWife]

It's shite isn't it! My DH has this whole conspiracy theory about DC and the Tories when it comes to the cuts, the recent riots etc. And now seeing the effect of unemployment on women I'm inclined to agree with him, it is almost as if they planned it. DC can have his Big fucking Society now can't he, seen as all these women are out of work and able to volunteer.

[didyouseewhatshedid]

It's terrible isnt it? I'm sure if Labour were still in they would have waved a magic wand so that, all of a sudden, the Western world wasn't facing its gravest economic crisis since the 1930s and therefore cuts didn't have to be made. Then all our problems would be solved!

[jennyvaultsthewagons]

This isn't really on topic, but it was the Tories who pushed hardest for derugulation of the markets (also a US neo-con policy and it was the US sup-prime market that is at the root of all this). It is generally acknowledged by the economists I have read that Gordon Brown did alleviate the worst of the crisis by persuading countries to embark on a policy of quantitive easing.

[BonnieLassie]

Is it any surprise that when so many women work in the public sector, women are hit harder by spending cuts? What do you suggest? Sacking all the men in the name of feminism?

I'm fairly sure that male unemployment is higher than female.

[STIDW]

The number of women unemployed was 1.05 m compared to 1.45 m men for the three months ending May.

Employment rates for men aged was 75.8 % and the corresponding employment rate for women was 65.6% for the same period.

That compares with employment rates of 79% for men and 70% for women in 1988.

[Mspontipine]

Job market recently flooded by single mothers too. Before we weren't included in the figures if we were claiming income support. Now, having to claim JSA it really must account for a large part of the increase doesn't it?

[BonnieLassie]

But do those figures include SAHMs?

Sorry but I have little sympathy when I see public sector offices staffed entirely by women. Labour used is as as way to create jobs for women while so many men struggled as their industries either withered and died or were deluged by competition from immigrants.

I've always worked in the private sector btw. But I have dealt with plenty or public sector people.

[STIDW]

Employment/unemployment figures are a proportion of the economically active people ie those who are in employment or actively seeking work.

[aliceliddell]

Bonnie - are you saying that Labour caused the destruction of heavy industry employing mainly men? It's just that I'm thinking of, say, steel and coal. Ring any bells? Don't recall the devil incadrnate Gordon Brown doing that.

[aliceliddell]

Immigrant female Labour Prime Ministers?