In the industries that have been hit hardest by the financial crisis, whether it is manufacturing or finance, a distinct characteristic is that they are male-dominated. To some extent, this has made the direct impact on men greater than on women. On the 21st, the UK's Financial Times published a signed article analyzing the current reality that some men, in order to survive, have started entering industries dominated by women. The following is an excerpt from the article:
Last month, Larry Brash lost his job at Fitch Ratings. This was the third time he had been laid off in eight years.
"It's like this, we've fallen apart. I'm sick of it," said his wife Sherry. "He must completely change careers and do something unrelated to Wall Street."
At 44, Brash is retraining for a nursing position. This might not impress his friends who still work at Fitch Ratings, but by switching to a traditionally female-dominated profession, Brash is trying to avoid a recession that has greatly impacted men.
Because men dominate cyclical industries such as manufacturing, construction, and finance, if the economy contracts, men are more affected than women. This economic downturn has hit them hard. Half of the US labor force is male, but among the 5.1 million jobs lost since the US entered a recession, more than three-quarters were held by men. The employment rate for American men has dropped from about 73% to 69% - the lowest level since records began in 1948.
Women's jobs are also being lost, but the decline isn't as severe. They often work as white-collar clerks. In the education and healthcare sectors, which have seen slight growth this year, women hold 75% of the jobs.
This pattern of layoffs means that in many families, women have become the sole breadwinners, earning money to support their husbands and children. Issues that have long plagued career women over generations have now become everyone's problem.
Women earn less than men, not just in professional fields. The disappearance of blue-collar jobs doesn't come with low pay: construction workers earn an average weekly salary of $840, higher than the US average weekly salary of $616. By comparison, the average weekly salary for those in healthcare and education is about $620; while retail is at $385.
Women enter and exit the workforce more frequently, often working part-time to care for children or relatives, thus accumulating fewer benefits such as health insurance. Many families now relying on women's income are struggling.
Sherry said her husband's unemployment has motivated her to become a stand-up comedian, but it has harmed the entire family. "His income was undoubtedly more stable than mine because my work hours aren't as regular as his... But the biggest blow we're about to face is healthcare."
The president of the Institute for Women's Policy Research said the issue is becoming increasingly serious. "All those low-income jobs done by women - retail, food service, home healthcare, babysitting - many don't offer medical (insurance), and even if they do, the cost is too high to cover all family members. Therefore, one of the major impacts of this recession is the reduction in health insurance coverage."
Some women's rights groups hope that this tension will drive labor market reforms that favor women. President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan has provided funds to states to make it easier for part-time and low-income workers to access unemployment benefits.
If large numbers of men flood into female-dominated job positions like Brash, the momentum for change will arrive. The prospect of reduced salaries and benefits hasn't stopped Brash: what he hopes for is immunity from the fluctuations of the economic cycle. "It seems like every time I've been unemployed, it's due to a recession, and I've had to struggle to jump back into the same industry... Now, I'm looking for a job that can withstand the effects of a recession."
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Not only has it expanded the talent reserve for companies.