New survey reveals stark economic inequities between genders

Women are more comfortable with — and confident in — their jobs than men, according to a new survey of 1,000 consumers over the age of 18.

The survey, conducted by the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights, asked both women and men about their current financial situations, key pain points, and future goals. It found that 84% of females have no plans to leave their current jobs in the next year (compared to 81% of men), and 80% of women do not feel that their current company is at risk for layoffs (compared to 73% of men).

However, when it comes to the overall economy, women have a gloomier outlook than men. Nearly 70% of females are either “not very” or “not at all” confident in their outlook for the economy in 2024, compared to 57% of males. Women also are more likely to think a recession is possible in 2024, with 34% predicting a recession; meanwhile, 28% of men think a recession is possible this year.

Additionally, according to the survey, while women have made strides toward financial equity, they still shoulder significant debt stress and are frequently concerned about the impact that the broader economy has on their financial stability. Women also are more likely than men to say they’re unprepared for future financial challenges.

“We know that there continues to be economic inequities between the genders, and this has long-term implications for financial planning and wellbeing,” Brad Stroh, co-founder and co-CEO of Achieve, a San Mateo, Calif.-based think tank, said in a statement. “The pessimism about the broader economic stability viewed by many women surveyed [is] largely driven by stress from ongoing inflation, thoughts of job insecurity, and ability to save or pay down debt.”

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Other highlights of the survey:

• Just 6% of both men and women believe their job security has improved in 2024, while 25% of women and 22% of men feel it has worsened.
• Despite feeling more secure in their current job roles, 66% of women admit to being financially unprepared for a potential layoff (compared to 54% of men).
• Female baby boomers are the most likely to say they are financially prepared for layoffs, while Millennials are the least.
• Three-quarters of both men and women identified inflation as a top economic risk this year, while 55% of women and 61% of men also said political uncertainty is another concern.