When the US economy began slowing down in 2007, women were in more danger of losing their jobs than men.

Between February 2007 and February this year, unemployment rate for US women rose from 3.5 per cent to 3.8 per cent while that for US men rose from 4.4 per cent to 4.5 per cent.

But now the tables have been turned.

Between February 2008 and February this year, unemployment rate for men has risen faster than that for women, regardless of their education or age, according to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labour Statistics.

The unemployment rate for men went up to 9 per cent, while that for women went up to 6.2 per cent.

Last year, the jobless rates for men aged between 35 and 44, and between 45 and 54 - considered the prime of their careers - were under the US national average.

But the rates this year, at 8.5 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively, are now above the US average.

The jobless rates for women in the same age groups are just 6.4 per cent and 5.7 per cent respectively.

The unemployment rate for women aged 25 and older was 6.2 per cent this February, compared to 9 per cent for men - the largest difference between the sexes since 1948.

Women more educated

Economist Mark Perry of the University of Michigan in Flint said there were two main reasons for the male-heavy effect.

He told The Chicago Tribune the recession began with crashes in the male-dominated construction, manufacturing and financial sectors, while the female-dominated sectors of education and healthcare were faring well.

The other reason was higher education.

Since 1981, he said women earned 135 bachelor's degrees for every 100 awarded to men and 150 master's degrees for every 100 awarded to men.

He said such figures made a difference as the unemployment rate for college graduates was less than half that for high-school graduates.

The data north of the border is no better.

According to Statistics Canada, employment for men aged between 25 and 54 fell by 170,000 jobs since October, four times more than that for women, reported the Globe and Mail.

The Anxiety Disorders Association of Ontario noted that 20 per cent more men are registering for anxiety management workshops.

In south-western Ontario, more men are also calling distress centres with as much as a 22 per cent increase in areas with losses in manufacturing jobs, a male bastion.

Men calling crisis lines in Calgary in the last few months have also been 40 per cent more likely to cite financial stress.

The number of crisis calls at the Women's Emergency Centre tripled this winter, many of them arising from economic pressures.

MEN
US unemployment rate

9%

Increase from 2008

4.5%

WOMEN
US unemployment rate

6.2%

Increase from 2008

2.4%

SOURCE: US BUREAU OF LABOUR STATISTICS

This article was first published in The New Paper.