Record numbers of women unemployed

Unemployment figuresreleased this week show that women’s unemployment is now at its highest in more than 30 years – 1.05 million women are now unemployed,  the highest figure since May 1988, says the Fawcett Society.

Unemployment figuresreleased this week show that women’s unemployment is now at its highest in more than 30 years – 1.05 million women are now unemployed,  the highest figure since May 1988, says the Fawcett Society.
More than half a million women  – 512,700 – are now claiming job seekers allowance -  the highest figure since April 1996, it adds. 
A new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission considering the status of women in the UK says it will take another 60 years –  or  12 general elections – to achieve an equal number of women MPs. Sex and Power also found that the number of women in the Cabinet has fallen to its lowest level in a decade.
Anna Bird, Acting Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, said: "It’s 2011 and women remain largely excluded from positions of power and influence in virtually every sphere of life –  the media, the judiciary, the education sector and more. There is a shocking absence of women in politics – men MPs outnumber women 4 to 1, the number of women in the Cabinet is at a 10 year low. 
“The absence of women from positions of power across the country is especially worrying, given that women today face an uncertain future. The number of women out of a job reach is now at a 30 year high – more than a million women are now unemployed; at the same time women are facing widening inequality as cuts to public services and benefits bite. 
“Decisions that affect us all, be it how to balance the nation’s budget, or our preferred system of welfare, are being made without women round the table. Unless all political parties take radical action to open up politics to women, calls on business and the like to open up their top tables to women sound hollow.”

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