Will women seek out business opportunities as public sector jobs decline?

Date: 5th September 2011

More women could be tempted to set up a business after one expert claimed they will be disproportionately affected by public sector cuts.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has noted that the last ten years has seen the number of women working in the sector soar at a faster rate than men.

This, the organisation claims, means women's unemployment, which is already at a 23-year high, is set to worsen as public sector jobs are cut over the coming months.

Brendan Barber, the TUC's general secretary, explained: "Female unemployment is already at a 23-year high, and with so many women employed in the public sector, this will only deteriorate as job cuts in our health, education, local government and the civil service continue to mount.

"Cuts have started affecting the public sector, and we know the pain is already being felt in the areas where public sector employment is more concentrated. Government complacency over growth is now coming back to haunt the UK and the chancellor's plans for job creation are woefully inadequate."

Posted by Emily Smith