Among the jobless, a large gender gap

(CBS News) PHILADELPHIA - The job market is still very tight. The Labor Department said Friday the unemployment rate went up in 44 states in July. And it turns out women who lose their jobs are finding it much tougher to find work than men.

Sixty-one-year-old Beatrice Sims decided to take an early retirement from her job as a Pennsylvania social worker in 2007. She thought she'd have more time to volunteer at her Philadelphia church.

But her expenses overwhelmed her savings. She's been looking for full time work for more than two years.

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"There were times for a while I was having sleepless nights," said Sims. "I've done that. I'd wake up maybe at 3:00 in the morning [and like], 'Oh my gosh, gotta pay the property taxes."

Women are the majority of clients at this Philadelphia career center. And more women are having a harder time finding work at job fairs. According to a review of government statistics by the National Women's Law Center, 2.7 million jobs have been created since the recovery began in June of 2009. But just 567,000 have gone to women.

The job deficit for African-American women is even greater. The number of unemployed black women has increased by 171,000 since June of 2009.

"There are thousands of people out here now that do have work histories, that do have experience, that are excellent workers, that have wonderful work ethic. And we're not able to find employment," said Sims.

Men are taking new jobs in industries where women have traditionally worked, like retail. Another major factor in the gender gap? Cuts in government jobs, where 57 percent of workers are women.

Does Sims get discouraged? "You know, I get frustrated," she said, "and there are times that I get discouraged. I know I am not helpless, that I am looking for help. But the hope is there still there."

But it will take time to close the gender gap. Economists predict it could take three years or more to get America's unemployed women back to work.

[hayseedbears]

All the more reason to NOT support the GOP. The party that refused to pass any legislation regarding "Equal pay for equal work".

[ArcticKen]

Recovery? Created jobs? How have jobs been created when the unemployment numbers are unchanged and there are fewer people working today than there were in 2008?

[NO-BS]

http://factcheck.org/2012/04/obamas-war-on-women/

Guess it's only newsworthy when the perception is it's only affecting women.

[CaptainSmollett]

"Among the jobless, a large gender gap"
...a direct reflection of Obama's failed economic policies.
He claims to be the champion of the working-class, but his policies are responsible for hurting them. He's the modern-day Pied Piper.

[Bryon_Evans]

Men are much less likely to file sexual harassment charges against an employer, or to sue for any reason actually. Employers can not afford the risks that come with having women on staff like they once did. It's just that simple.

[test43]

nicely said

[Transatlantique]

But how many of those jobs were women willing to take? There are many jobs that were created that women simply didn't want or weren't qualified, like the dirty ones that men have to take to support their families. The article didn't stress the kinds of jobs that were created, but only said that men were taking jobs in retail that usually went to women. Nonsense! I've looked for jobs in female dominated stores that rarely hired men. A woman I know that used to work at our local tag agency said that they didn't hire qualified men. When will these feminists stop trying to play the victim and use the media to fan the flames of their nonsense? Discrimination happens to both genders depending on the region of the country and the prejudices of the employer.

[Mikzy]

No, this is because the overwhelming majority of the jobs lost in the recession were jobs held by men, not women. Women are not being employed at the same rates as men because their unemployment levels were not as high as men's to begin with. I guarantee you if the jobs numbers are looked at the majority of the jobs gained will be in manufacturing, construction etc. The majority of jobs gained by women are probably in the service sector or health care fields. And, considering the sturdiness of the field, the female unemployment level did not rise at high. Okay, okay...

[Predictor]

On the other hand, many more men than women have lost their jobs during this economic downturn.

[CaptainSmollett]

true

[Jaylah54200]

The Romney/Ryan campaign still hasn't figured out that women can vote, too. (Although they'd prefer they still weren't allowed.)