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Worldwide downturn 'to hit women' Worldwide downturn 'to hit women'
(about 2 hours later)
The economic crisis could increase the number of unemployed women by up to 22 million this year, the International Labour Organization (ILO) says.The economic crisis could increase the number of unemployed women by up to 22 million this year, the International Labour Organization (ILO) says.
In a report assessing employment trends for women, the ILO warns that they will not escape the downturn.In a report assessing employment trends for women, the ILO warns that they will not escape the downturn.
The global crisis began in the financial sectors of the world's richest countries, in jobs traditionally dominated by men. But the UK's Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said women were not suffering more than men.
The global crisis began in the US and Europe's financial sectors in jobs traditionally dominated by men.
But unemployment is now spreading well beyond these sectors, the ILO says.But unemployment is now spreading well beyond these sectors, the ILO says.
Jeff Johnson, author of the report, says: "The sectors that were initially impacted the hardest, which were finance, insurance and real estate, construction and manufacturing were often dominated by male workers. "The sectors that were initially impacted the hardest, which were finance, insurance and real estate, construction and manufacturing were often dominated by male workers," said Jeff Johnson, author of the report.
"But as this crisis has played out, it's hit other sectors of the economy - service-orientated sectors, wholesale retail trade - which in many industrialised economies are dominated by females.""But as this crisis has played out, it's hit other sectors of the economy - service-orientated sectors, wholesale retail trade - which in many industrialised economies are dominated by females."
Jobs disappearJobs disappear
As consumer confidence wanes, more traditionally female jobs such as waitresses and shop assistants, are all disappearing too.As consumer confidence wanes, more traditionally female jobs such as waitresses and shop assistants, are all disappearing too.
The ILO is especially worried about women in the developing world, working in agriculture, or as domestic servants, on a piecemeal basis.The ILO is especially worried about women in the developing world, working in agriculture, or as domestic servants, on a piecemeal basis.
It's a truism that more women will lose jobs in this recession than in previous recessions - there are simply lots more women in the workforce John PhilpottCIPD
They have no social protection and are especially vulnerable during an economic downturn.They have no social protection and are especially vulnerable during an economic downturn.
The ILO is predicting a global rise in unemployment this year of up to 51 million people - 22 million, it believes, will be women.The ILO is predicting a global rise in unemployment this year of up to 51 million people - 22 million, it believes, will be women.
The organisation is calling on governments to ensure that new jobs created by economic stimulus packages guarantee fair salaries, and social protection measures.The organisation is calling on governments to ensure that new jobs created by economic stimulus packages guarantee fair salaries, and social protection measures.
However, official UK figures showed that women were "definitely not" suffering more than men from job cuts and rising unemployment, according to the CIPD.
The argument had been pushed by vested interest groups, said the group's chief economist.
"It's a truism that more women will lose jobs in this recession than in previous recessions - there are simply lots more women in the workforce," he said.
"Yet while one can't yet entirely rule out the possibility that women will lose out relative to men in the jobs stakes as the recession unfolds, this is categorically not true of the jobs downturn to date."
He acknowledged that women who lost their jobs might need tailored help to enable them to cope with unemployment and returning to work - including income pressure on lone parents and childcare issues.
But more men had so far lost their jobs during the recession, Mr Philpott said.