UK spending cuts increase women unemployment

Cuts in retail, cleaning and catering jobs have contributed to the rising number of unemployed women, new research has revealed.

A study carried out by analysts SSentif showed that 129,000 female retail workers were claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) last month compared with 94,000 a year ago – a jump of 27%.

The increase followed a spate of high street stores going into administration, as well as job cuts in the banking industry.

The number of women in the domestic and catering sectors who were claiming JSA in July increased by 16% compared with a year ago, the research showed.

Women working as care assistants in public firms and the private sector have also been badly affected, with an 18% increase in JSA claimants in those areas, said the report.

Judy Aldred, managing director of SSentif, said: “There is no doubt that Government cuts are more likely to affect the jobs of women than men due to more women being employed in the public sector.

“However the most recent rises in female unemployment show us that the ongoing pressure on high street spending is resulting in significant female job losses.

“It is also interesting to see across the board, in both the public and private sector, that it is the lower paid, more administrative-focused jobs that are being hit, with middle-management jobs appearing to be spared at the moment.”

Source: Sky News