Jobless women on the rise

By Macon Ramos-Araneta | Posted on September 13, 2012 |  

The unemployment rate among women in the country has been going up, and this prompted a lawmaker to call for more gender-responsive development priorities that should be reflected in the 2013 budget.
A Social Weather Stations survey said that last May, the percentage of unemployed women was 36.4% or 6.5 million, higher than the percentage of unemployed men at 18.9% or 4.4 million.
Taking into account the abilities unique among genders, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Commission on Women should begin addressing this situation, Senator Loren Legarda said.
Priority support should be given to industries that women frequent, such as textiles, crafts, farming, and food-processing and helping women start their own businesses and cooperatives, she said.
Apropriate training should focus sectors that build women’s opportunities such as telecommunications, tourism, leisure services, and traditionally male-dominated jobs, she said.(END)