Thursday, December 3, 2009

Women on verge of work force majority

Getty Images

Getty Images

As the recession marches on, and layoffs mount, an interesting thing is unfolding: women are about to be the majority of the job force for the first time in history. This has nothing to do with gender equality in the workplace, and everything to do with how layoffs are hitting men harder; 82 percent of layoffs have hit men, many in manufacturing and construction jobs, the New York Times reports.

Women, meanwhile, are heavily represented in fields like education and health care, which are not as hard hit in a recession. And they are also already in more flexible jobs, or part-time jobs, that pay less and may be less likely targeted in this tough time.

The downside to what could be a remarkable milestone is some sobering facts: women work fewer overall hours than men and are more likely to be in part-time jobs without insurance. So women are in a tougher position to support families with the work they do.

Add this to the mix: When women are unemployed and searching for work, the time they spend taking care of kids nearly doubles, the Times reports. Probably because there’s no money for child care. But unemployed men do not alter child care duties much at all. Looking for a job remains their top job, while women, who juggle it all while employed, juggle even more while unemployed.

Does any of this sound strikingly familiar? Are you employed yet under-employed when it comes to supporting your family, but still taking full responsibility for the day-to-day care of everything home?

Syndication:

From the Community…

Comments 1-5 of 5
  • reza's Avatar
    Posted by reza Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:34am PST

    hello

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  • beautifully's Avatar
    Posted by beautifully Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:52am PST

    This fact hits home for me. My soon to be ex husband was laid off about 7 months after our son was born from a relatively good paying job. I was going to college full time and working part time, and our son was in child care.

    I started working full time to try to pick up some extra money to get us through. Another of my money-saving thoughts was for the baby to be home with him. That would have saved us roughly $100 week. He wouldn't hear of it. I ended up dropping out of college because I couldn't maintain a full time job, being a full time college student and a full time mom, full time housekeeper, cook, laundress. I was and still am very bitter about all of that.

    Sadly, I think these stories will be far too numerous because what the author said is true.

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  • Rose's Avatar
    Posted by Rose Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:27pm PST

    The PRIVATE sector of healthcare has been hit hard. But there is no shortage of low to no income patients and the funds to provide treatment are there.

    I agree that men do not alter their child care duties. When I'm home the kids are home with me. When my husband has a day off, the kids are at daycare!

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  • Sharon's Avatar
    Posted by Sharon Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:14pm PST

    This is NOT a surprise. Why do you think women work part-time, work lower paying jobs, and don't finish their education??????

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  • Charlotte's Avatar
    Posted by Charlotte Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:27am PDT

    I AM A DIVORCED SINGLE MOM OF 3 TEENAGERS....WORKING ONE DEAD END JOB...TRYING TO DIVIDE 7BILLS INTO ONE 40 HR AWEEK PAY....ITS HARD AND LOOKING TO WORK A SECOND JOB 1 OUT OF SCHOOL,1 ON THE WAY TO COLLEGE,AND 1 IN HIGH SCHOOL...PRAYING EVERYDAY A BETTER DAY IS COMING...THIS IS WHY I WORK PERIOD.....

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