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Women in the Workforce (and the Start-up Scene?)
By Marc Tracy
What happens when a recession produces massive layoffs, and 78% of those laid off are men? You have, as the New York Times reports in an excellent article, an influx of women entering--or, in most cases, re-entering--the workforce. This has applied particularly to talented, well-educated, and affluent women. It typically works like this: woman has been out of the workforce while husband works in high-paying job that brings in enough for family. Recession causes husband to be laid off, or the couple's net worth to fall precipitously, or both. Woman realizes she needs to earn, too, and sends out resumes.
Of course, a tight job situation remains a tight job situation, and in fact, the increase in applicants--which is atypical; usually applicants fall during periods of protracted high unemployment, as the jobless become discouraged--only makes the job scene that much tighter.
Which brings us, of course, to the alternative: starting your own business! In fact, Nada Jones and Michelle Briody, authors of Sixteen Weeks to Your Dream Business, have written for us about the advantages for women who start their own businesses in the midst of recession. "With the economy in shambles, many women and mothers are trying to think of ways to help their families stay afloat," they argued last December. "At the same time, big companies are tightening their belts, cutting budgets and jobs, and it is that much harder to get back into the workforce. So there’s no place to go--but out on your own."
Do check out their post. And if you see the inevitable "Recession Causing More Women To Start Their Own Companies" trend story before we do, please let us know.
Comments (0)September 23, 2009 1:41 PM
