Since December 2008, women have lost 81 percent of the jobs lost in the public sector, reveals a new analysis by the Institute for Women's Policy Research.

The local and state levels are a main source of these job losses. Between December 2008 and July 2011, the employment for women in the public sector at a local level fell by 4.7 percent; however, the number of men decreased by only 1.6 percent. Over the same timeframe, women employees at the federal level experienced a 3.2 percent decline in their ranks. Men on this level, though, grew by 5.3 percent, which could be pointed to the increased employment in areas such as homeland security and civilian employment in the Department of Defense.

Women employed at the local level in the public sector are often elementary and middle school teachers, teacher assistants, secondary school teachers, secretaries and administrative assistants while men are more likely to be employed as police and sheriff's patrol officers, elementary and middle school teachers, secondary school teachers, janitors and firefighters.