Glass ceiling remains in place despite progress ANALYSIS:The
economic downturn has narrowed long-standing gaps between men
and women in areas such as employment and education – but some
stubborn differences remain, writes CARL O'BRIEN THE LATEST
batch of census results for 2011 show the economic downturn has
not been an equal opportunities destroyer. While it has wrecked
the livelihoods and aspirations of thousands of women, the
shockwaves of the financial collapse have hit men even harder
still. The dramatic decline in male-dominated areas of
employment such as construction and manufacturing industries led
to a sharp increase in unemployment. Job growth in female-
dominated areas of employment such as teaching, health and
social work meant women were hit to a lesser degree overall in
relative terms – though this was still considerable. The male
unemployment rate was 22 per cent in 2011, compared to a female
unemployment rate of 15 per cent. The difference was more acute
among young men and women. Some 41 per