‘Jobs for women’ vanishing at faster rate than ‘male roles’

JOBS in the top 20 occupations traditionally seen as being for female workers have fallen by 40 per cent in the past year, as the virus crisis disproportionately affects women, research shows.

Jobs site Adzuna said that compared to a year ago there had been a 52 per cent decline in adverts for receptionists’ jobs, a similar reduction in secretarial vacancies and a 42 per cent fall in openings nursery nurses and assistants.

There had also been a 38 per cent decline in jobs for sales and retail assistants, the top occupation held by women in 2020.

Care work was the only occupation seeing a hiring rise – up by 45 per cent. When it came to occupations for often viewed as for men, jobs had increased in some of the top 20 vocations.

These included warehouse workers, goods drivers, electricians and carpenters and joiners, said Adzuna.

Andrew Hunter, co-founder of the website, said: “The pandemic has hurt job prospects for women. Hiring in jobs historically employing women has been hit hard. Covid-19 has left many women with lower pay, fewer options and often shouldering the burden of increased caring needs.

“There is a danger that the last 12 months could widen the gender pay gap and increase inequality.

“We need to take a long, hard look at how we support women through the pandemic and into work. Part of this is about opening up more roles to women, through better flexible working and improving childcare options.

“But we also need a shift in mentality to encourage more women into high-growth sectors like logistics, tech and manufacturing, ensuring they benefit from the opportunities being created in these areas.”