NEW figures released by Labour on International Women’s Day show that the number of women aged 25 and over unemployed for two years in the East of England rose by 492 per cent between May 2010 and January 2015.
Research by the House of Commons library has also found women are increasingly likely to be stuck in low-paid jobs. Nationally, since 2010 60 per cent of the growth in jobs for women has come from low-paying industries. For men it is 39 per cent. The cost of a nursery place has risen by a third under David Cameron, and in some areas childcare costs are now two thirds of average weekly earnings, making it harder for women to get back to work.
Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s shadow Work and Pensions secretary said:
"These new figures revealing the huge rise in long-term unemployment amongst women shows the Tory plan is failing. The rise in long-term unemployment for women has been twice as high as that for men under David Cameron, and women have been hit hardest by the huge rise in low-paid jobs.
The choice we face in May couldn’t be clearer. A failing Tory plan which has seen the number of women unemployed for more than two years rise by 415 per cent and a growing number of women stuck in low-paid jobs.”
Mike Le-Surf, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock said:
“Only a Labour government will support more women into work with a Compulsory Jobs Guarantee and our plan to tackle low pay by raising the minimum wage to £8 an hour and giving tax rebates for firms who pay a Living Wage. We will also aim to double the number of childcare places provided at Sure Start centres to more than 118,000 by introducing a statutory obligation to provide access to childcare for use by the whole community.”
