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You are here: Home News News Focus Economic slump in Europe could hit women hardest

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05/03/2009Economic slump in Europe could hit women hardest

The economic slowdown is likely to affect women more than men because women are more often in precarious jobs, according to a recent report.

Brussels -- The global economic slowdown could hit working women harder than men, the European Commission said in a report Tuesday, which showed a large and persistent pay gap between the sexes.

"The economic slowdown is likely to affect women more than men because women are more often in precarious jobs," said the report, launched as part of a commission campaign to improve pay conditions for women.

The study showed that women earn on average 17.4 percent less than men across the 27-nation EU, hold fewer positions of responsibility and work part-time more often.

It urged nations to invest more in human capital and social infrastructure so that both men and women would be able to help better confront the economic downturn.

"In today's economic climate, equality between women and men is more important than ever,” said Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimir Spidla. “Only by reaping the potential of all our talents can we face up to the crisis.”

The report said that traditions, stereotypes and the undervaluing of women’s work caused the pay gap. Also contributing to the gay were problems in balancing work and private lives.

The gap exists despite the fact that women account for nearly 60 percent of all university graduates in the EU.

While the study noted that more women are entering the workforce, the employment rate for women with children under 12 fell by 12.4 percent yet rose by 7.3 percent for men, reflecting an unequal sharing of childcare responsibilities.

AFP/Expatica


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