Unions warn of more women unemployed as cuts begin to bite - 19th November 2010
Unions have
warned that female
unemployment could
rise further as
public spending cuts
begin to take
effect, with new
figures showing the
number of women out
of work has hit a
22-year high.
The number of women
out of work is now
at 1.02m, up 31,000
on the last quarter
and is now at its
highest since 1988
when Margaret
Thatcher was Prime
Minister. It
contrasts with a
fall in unemployment
amongst men, down
40,000 on the
previous quarter and
a rapid rise in the
number of people
taking up part-time
and temporary jobs,
suggesting that many
are currently unable
to find full-time
employment. The
number in part-time
work was up to
almost eight
million, the highest
on record.
Although the Office
for National
Statistics figures
show a slight fall
in the jobless total
and a rise in the
number of people
employed, experts
pointed out that the
rise in employment
was built on “shaky
foundations” and
that the figure was
still 210,000 lower
than two years ago.
Nigel Meager,
director of the
Institute for
Employment Studies,
said that the mixed
results from the ONS
statistics showed
that the jobs market
continued to give
cause for concern.
He said: “It remains
unclear whether the
renewed buoyancy in
the private sector
will suffice to
offset the further
significant job loss
expected in the
public sector in the
months ahead.”
