Why did women weather the recession better than men?
One of the more intriguing ways to break down boring financial news is to play up a dichotomy.
The one that gives readers the most to work with? Men vs. women.
Usually – or make that unfortunately – women seem to get the short end of the stick; nowhere is this more prevalent than in regard to workplace salaries. Yet, God bless ‘em, women seem to be on top right now, no innuendo intended.
Because, according to Stats Canada, women fared much better during the recession than men did.
By figures in the census agency’s new study, Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report, the employment rate for women in 2009 – the height of the downturn – was 58.3 per cent, down only one per cent from a year earlier.
The employment rate for men, by contrast, dipped to 65.2 per cent in 2009. That was down by 2.9 per cent from 2008 – meaning, in theory, men lost nearly three times as many jobs as women did during the recession.
Certainly, there are theories as to why this is. The most prevalent, of course, is that women tend to find employ in the hard-hit manufacturing and labour sectors much less often than men.
But look closer and there are more encouraging reasons why chicks slugged the downturn out better than dudes.
According to the report, more and more women are finding work in higher-paid, white-collar professions, which were generally safer from layoffs while the economy went down like Charles and Camilla on the streets of London. (Topical!)
Notes the report, about 51 per cent of workers in Canada’s financial industry were women last year (up from 49 per cent in 1999), and more than 55 per cent of Canada’s doctors, dentists and health-related workers were women in 2009 (way up from 47 per cent ten years ago.)
Still, despite these numbers, everyone has their opinion as to why women weathered the storm better than men, as you can see by this feature in the Star.
What do you think? Why do you figure women handled the recession better than their male counterparts?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Colleen | Dec 10, 2021 2:14:26 PM
It might have something to do with their occupations like health care and sales clerk because these positions are predominately filled with women. Construction and mining and stuff are dependent on the markets and are some are seasonal so it can be chicken one day and feathers the next.
Canada's beefed up immigration also increased the need for more sales clerks predominantly filled by women. Winners or losers, if you have had to put 14 hours in behind a cash register for minimum wage some would feel like the biggest losers around. Or in health care which is in a mess doing all the dirt jobs for dirt pay and screwed up shifts, another dead end job for measly pay.
Posted by: Artemirr | Dec 10, 2021 8:45:45 PM
The immigration policy to undermine Canada’s freedoms not per say the immigrants themselves but as a more sinister scheme to establish a new oligarchy, by the means of bringing in an established minority and then mislead them to believe that everyone is out to get them. The misconstruing financial facts and the misleading of people to an elitist society continues. My enemy of the people for the longest time are the elitists. Psychology went by another name at one time; it is a far older art much of which is propagated from America to attempt to convey an honest appeal which is very dishonest in its truth. If one seeks truth one should look at all the facts that are connected, that pivots upon each balance point. The petty minded being told that they are victims of something they were never a victim of. The cycle continues and at some point Daniels calculation of magnetic resonances of combined points to magnify gravitational pulls like a magnifying glass stacked to amplify the rays of light will come to pass. I suppose it is the last of us that sadly hope he was right, rather than see this garbage of elitist society creating a recession upon the masses. I suppose an inconvenient truth will always be replaced with lies to mislead the flock. America and its dark horse men that move from country to country are beginning to anger me. If you wish to understand the light perhaps read Satanism and then you might understand what god is about. Deceivers and liars for far too long, there’s more hidden facts that would highlight things that are far more scheming in the background then this created tablature of why women fared better through this created recession of greed. As science has said we started with order and descended into chaos as that is the state of nature, rather than maintaining what is needed to have balance and order. So many little Satanist groups have been established in the last six thousand years and these egos or minds cause nothing but war famine and much grief upon those that just wish to have an easy life, which would be attainable if the herd fought for each other rather than believe in these lies. The only enemy you have is the enemy you make. Satanism is about the self first, an elitist society and using the conveniences and mental weaknesses and hopes to prey upon the herd. It is why it is so important that one master their mind and not fall victim to the created temptations of the elitists that in the end cause your suffering and ultimately their own suffering. An elitist society relies on the herd, the other raises everyone to be an elite as a gathered community of positive progress and does not withhold information upon the herd so each can reach a maximum potential. I do however find it funny that the herd will work so hard to kill a created enemy but when the deed is done the recede into such a relaxed state this is why after every war it is a false time of peace until the underlying issues are finally dealt with. North America is becoming teh most sexiest place to live no wonder majority of my friends have left to leave in UK or even China. No one wants to be a part o another Hitler regime. You may take our ability to afford education you may burn our books but you will never take our freedom of mind.
Posted by: Richard | Dec 12, 2021 5:53:54 PM
Artemirr... Certainly hope you entertained yourself with your drivel laden rant. Most of us fell asleep after the second sentence.
Posted by: SP | Dec 12, 2021 6:09:25 PM
For years the government has been hiring and promoting women like crazy to show what a 'progressive' country we are. The recession so far has only affected organizations that have to compete for money and thus mens employment has tumbled while women's has stayed secure. Luckily this can continue forever along with ever more generous government pensions and ever increasing house prices. Right?
Posted by: Bracken | Dec 13, 2021 5:33:36 PM
Here in the West, here are more single sole support female parents than ever before, women’s jobs are in the lower pay scale, they work harder, because they have to...rising and caring for their families on their own. From the moment a woman’s gives birth, her workload is huge until that child leaves the home, to start a life on its own.
You want a job done right, give it to a woman.
You want a cheap labour, hire a woman.
You want free housework, cleaning, cooking, laundry, appointment making, grocery shopping and biological children etc....get married.