Women, work and the recession, Bevan Foundation report

The Bevan Foundation report published todaywas commissioned by Finance Minister Jane Hutt to look at the impact the changes to the economy over the past 4 years have had on women in Wales and sadly like so many reports about Wales it makes depressing reading.

The report raises many issues and challenges that women face and the Welsh Government need to start tackling as soon as possible and the findings confirm that the recession is far from over for women in Wales:

The last four years have seen complex changes in women’s employment in Wales with women continuing to lose jobs in the last 12 months.

Self employment has increased whilst part time employment is contracting.
 
Women in occupations at the bottom of the labour market have borne the brunt of job losses
 
Women’s employment has been substantially affected by the increase in the state pension age for women
 
Changes to social security benefits have seen many women moving into the labour market and contributed to the increase in women’s unemployment.
 
Women continue to earn less than men across the income distribution
 
The gender pay gap is smaller in the public sector than in the private sector.
 
There are particular challenges for young women and women moving off benefit (especially women with children)

These findings suggest that the recession is far from over for women in Wales. Continuing economic pressure coupled with the impact of increases in state pension age and movements off social security benefit is likely to result in the  number of women seeking work continuing to rise. There are particular challenges for young women and women moving off benefit (especially women with children). There may be a need for support for these women prior to participation in the Work Programme.

The full report is here

http://www.bevanfoundation.org/wordpress-content/uploads/2013/02/WomenWork-WEB.pdf

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