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.
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Although the private sector added 17,000 jobs in August, the public sector lost the same number of jobs for zero jobs gains last month.
"The American Jobs Act proposed by President Obama will ensure investment in the country's infrastructure and education," says Jeffrey Hayes, senior researcher at IWPR. "The boost in funding will help women employees in the public sector, in turn allowing them to invest in their families, their communities and in the economy overall."
Education is highlighted in President Obama's proposal, which includes a $30 billion investment to prevent the layoffs of up to 280,000 teachers as well as law enforcement officials and firefighters.
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