Economic crisis to hit women harder than men, ILO report says
Vancouver Sun / Financial Post
March 14, 2009
By: Becky Rynor

The continuing global economic crisis will likely see more women than men lose their jobs in the year ahead, the International Labour Organization warns.

In its annual report Global Employment Trends for Women, the Geneva-based employment equity organization said up to 22 million women could join the ranks of the unemployed in 2009.

"Gender inequality in the world of work has long been with us, but it is likely that it will be exacerbated by the crisis," said Juan Somavia, director-general of the UN agency whose mandate is to promote "decent work" internationally.

"In times of economic upheaval, women often experience the negative consequences more rapidly and are slower to enjoy the benefits of recovery. And already before the crisis, the majority of working women were in the informal economy with lower earnings and less social protection."…

"Women's lower employment rates, weaker control over property and resources, concentration in informal and vulnerable forms of employment with lower earnings, and less social protection, all place women in a weaker position than men to weather crises", said ILO spokeswoman Jane Hodges….

The countries where unemployment rates may have less of an impact on women include East Asia, developed economies and the non-European Union which had narrower gender gaps in job opportunities prior to the current economic crisis.