(updated May 2013)[1]
The deep recession that began in December 2007 cost workers nearly 7.5 million jobs before it officially ended in June 2009. From the start of the recovery in June 2009 to April 2013, the economy added almost 4.9 million net jobs.[2] The pace of the recovery has picked up for women after largely leaving them behind at the outset. However, heavier public sector job losses continue to slow the recovery for women.
Key Facts
|
Women’s job gains over the course of the recovery were held back by public sector losses.
- The economy added almost 4.9 million jobs from the start of the recovery to April 2013; women gained nearly 1.7 million of those jobs while men gained over 3.2 million of these jobs. Between June 2009 and April 2013, women gained back 77.9 percent of the jobs they lost in the recession, while men gained back 60.7 percent.[3]
- The private sector picked up over 5.6 million jobs from the start of the recovery to April 2013; women gained almost 2.1 million of those jobs while men gained over 3.5 million of these jobs. Between June 2009 and April 2013, women gained back 91.9 percent of the private sector jobs they lost in the recession, while men gained back 65.6 percent.[4]
- Heavy job losses in public sector employment have slowed the recovery, especially for women. From the start of the recovery through April 2013, women lost 444,000 public sector jobs. Men lost 297,000 public sector jobs over the same period.[5]
Women’s and men’s unemployment dropped since the start of the recovery – men’s dropped dramatically.
- Between June 2009 and April 2013, adult women’s overall unemployment rate decreased from 7.6 percent to 6.7 percent and adult men’s overall unemployment rate dropped from 9.9 percent to 7.1 percent.[6]
Unemployment for many vulnerable groups remained high during the recovery.
- Unemployment rates for adult African-American women and men, adult Hispanic women and men, and single mothers have been persistently higher than for adult women or men overall throughout the recession and recovery.
- Unemployment rates declined during the recovery for adult African-American women (11.8 percent to 11.6 percent), adult African-American men (16.3 percent to 12.6 percent), adult Hispanic women (11.5 percent to 7.5 percent), adult Hispanic men (10.7 percent to 7.6 percent), and single mothers (11.7 percent to 10.3 percent).[7]
Long-term unemployment is substantially higher than at the start of the recovery.
- The percentage of jobless workers who were still looking for work after more than six months of unemployment increased substantially since the start of the recovery, to 42.9 percent for adult women in April 2013, an increase of 13.6 percentage points, and to 42.8 percent for adult men in April 2013, an increase of 12.1 percentage points.[8]
- In April, almost 4.4 million Americans were still looking for work after more than six months.[9]
The economy still has a long way to go. Overall, less than two-thirds of the jobs lost during the recession have been regained in the recovery. The data highlight the need for lawmakers to end the sequester and invest in job creation for women and men.
Policymakers must reject further cuts in funding for public services that would mean more job losses and increased hardship, especially for women and their families.
[1] Revisions to the April version of this analysis reflect both the incorporation of new data each month, and revisions by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to previously reported data.
[2] NWLC calculations from U.S. Dep’t of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Employment Statistics Survey, Table B-5: Employment of women on nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted, available at http://bls.gov/ces/cesbtabs.htm (last visited May 3, 2013).
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] NWLC calculations from U.S. Dep’t of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey (hereinafter “BLS Current Population Survey”), Table A-1: Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age, seasonally adjusted, available at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm (last visited May 3, 2013). All adult unemployment rates are for individuals 20 and older.
[7] NWLC calculations from BLS Current Population Survey, Table A-2: Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex and age, seasonally adjusted, Table A-3: Employment status of the Hispanic or Latino population by sex and age, not seasonally adjusted, and Table A-10: Selected Unemployment Indicators, seasonally adjusted, available at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm (last visited May 3, 2013). Rates for Hispanic adults and single mothers are not seasonally adjusted.
[8] NWLC calculations from BLS Current Population Survey, Table A-36: Unemployed persons by age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, marital status, and duration of unemployment, not seasonally adjusted, July 2009, available at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ee/archive.htm (last visited May 3, 2013) and Table A-36: Unemployed persons by age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, marital status, and duration of unemployment, not seasonally adjusted, available at http://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea36.htm (last visited May 3, 2013).
[9] BLS Current Population Survey, Table A-12: Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment, available at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm (last visited May 3, 2013). Figure includes all individuals 16 and older and is seasonally adjusted.
