Warning over female unemployment

Summary of story from Daily Star, 9.3.11.

Union leaders in the UK have warned of a “crisis” in female unemployment following a big rise in the number of women out of work over the past year.

The TUC said male employment had started to recover, up by 238,000 in the past 12 months, compared with a fall of 19,000 among women.

Male unemployment fell by 31,000 in the past year but rose by 71,000 for women, according to a study by the union organisation.

The analysis also shows that in some parts of the country as many as one in five women aged between 16 and 24 is currently unemployed.

The study also shows a fall in jobs traditionally taken by women, including those in retail, secretarial, health and social work.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “The UK desperately needs an economic strategy that prioritises growth and jobs to bring revenues in and the deficit down. The current plan of deep, rapid cuts is causing job losses to mount and sending our economy in the wrong direction.”

The study was published at the opening of the TUC Women’s Conference in Eastbourne.