This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7841347.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Downturn 'hitting women harder' | Downturn 'hitting women harder' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Female workers are being hit harder than ever before by the effects of the current downturn, a report suggests. | |
| A study by the TUC union showed the redundancy rate among women had risen by 2.3%, almost double the rate for men, since last year. | A study by the TUC union showed the redundancy rate among women had risen by 2.3%, almost double the rate for men, since last year. |
| It said more women were in work and more households depended on a woman's wage than in previous downturns. | It said more women were in work and more households depended on a woman's wage than in previous downturns. |
| It also found many job losses were occurring in retail and hospitality, where more women than men work. | It also found many job losses were occurring in retail and hospitality, where more women than men work. |
| The study, published ahead of Wednesday's unemployment figures which are expected to show another big rise in the jobless total, also found women now earn more than men in a fifth of couples. | The study, published ahead of Wednesday's unemployment figures which are expected to show another big rise in the jobless total, also found women now earn more than men in a fifth of couples. |
| Unnoticed redundancies | Unnoticed redundancies |
| TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said it was going to be an "equal opportunities recession", compared to the aftermath of Britain's previous economic downturns. | TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said it was going to be an "equal opportunities recession", compared to the aftermath of Britain's previous economic downturns. |
| He explained: "Job losses in sectors where men predominate such as manufacturing and construction are now being balanced by job losses in retail and hospitality where more women than men work." | He explained: "Job losses in sectors where men predominate such as manufacturing and construction are now being balanced by job losses in retail and hospitality where more women than men work." |
| "But job losses among men are still more likely to hit the headlines as women tend to work in smaller workplaces where redundancies go unnoticed by the media. | "But job losses among men are still more likely to hit the headlines as women tend to work in smaller workplaces where redundancies go unnoticed by the media. |
| "With so many households absolutely dependent on women's wages, the government must ensure that women benefit from programmes to help those facing redundancy and the long-term unemployed." | "With so many households absolutely dependent on women's wages, the government must ensure that women benefit from programmes to help those facing redundancy and the long-term unemployed." |
| The TUC urged the government to take specific measures to ensure unemployed women received the support they needed to get back into work. | The TUC urged the government to take specific measures to ensure unemployed women received the support they needed to get back into work. |
| Women's employment has increased significantly over the past 30 years, while it has fallen for men, according to the research. | Women's employment has increased significantly over the past 30 years, while it has fallen for men, according to the research. |
| Meanwhile, a separate study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development showed half of employers had launched recruitment freezes in a bid to avoid making redundancies, while a similar number were shedding temporary or agency workers. | Meanwhile, a separate study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development showed half of employers had launched recruitment freezes in a bid to avoid making redundancies, while a similar number were shedding temporary or agency workers. |
| The survey of almost 900 employers revealed one in seven had introduced short-term working or cut bonuses, while 7% had trimmed wage costs. | The survey of almost 900 employers revealed one in seven had introduced short-term working or cut bonuses, while 7% had trimmed wage costs. |