Women hardest hit

Women are being hit hardest by austerity measures, with single mothers now set to lose the equivalent of almost two months’ income a year, according to a new analysis of the June 2013 spending review by the Women’s Budget Group.

The independent voluntary organisation, made up of trade unionists, academics and individual experts, has been tracking the impact of the coalition government’s economic policy on women and gender equality since 2010.

It’s latest briefing, To ensure economic recovery for women, we need Plan F, reports that women are harshly affected by cuts to public services and social security entitlements.

It says the shift of employment from the public to the private sector worsens women’s labour market position and that women benefit the least from opportunities arising from the government’s investment in physical infrastructure.

http://wbg.org.uk/pdfs/WBG-briefing_Sept-2013_final.pdf