The Recession Gender Gap

This current recession is resulting in elevated levels of gender specific unemployment.

The zero line in the graph below represents equal unemployment levels for both men and women.

When the line dips below zero, as it did for 20 years between 1958 and 1978, it means that the female unemployment rate is higher than the male rate.

When it climbs above zero, the male unemployment rate is higher than the female rate.





So what is causing this rise in male unemployment. The decline in manufacturing jobs is certainly one thing.

Another is residential construction, which boomed during the early part of this decade, and has been demolished (no pun intended) ever since.

Nine out of ten construction workers are male, and seven out of ten manufacturing workers are men. Those sectors alone have lost more than 2.5 million jobs.

On the other hand, many women are in industries that aren't facing such devastating, and possibly permanent, upheaval such as the health and education sectors.