Men’ and Women’ Unemployment Disparity Report

Cover Letter

Purpose of research: This study aimed at establishing the difference in gap of the rate of unemployment between women and men during the 2007 recession. Reasons for the difference in gap would be established so that a clear-cut justification is made. The information in this research is important because it will assist policy makers to ensure that relevant measures are taken in order to ensure that the gap does not increase in the future in case of another recession. This will help protect men, who in most cases are breadwinners in their families.

In case of questions and clarifications, please contact (your name, address and phone number)

It should be noted that information submitted shall be handled with utmost confidentiality. No third party shall have access to any of the private information.

The survey intends to cover a span of three weeks upon which its return will confirm that the respondent will have given consent for use and analysis of his information.

In case you find a question too sensitive, feel free to leave the question unanswered.

Thanks for your cooperation and effort as without it, the whole study would be meaningless.

Problem Statement

Without doubt, the recent recession had great impacts on the rate of employment in the United States of America. Studies point out that the rate of unemployment hit an all time high for the period after the Second World War. Although the overall rate of unemployment was high, it is clear that the gap between genders was even higher. According to statistics, unemployment rate in men was estimated at 11.0% while that of women at 8.3%. The 2.7% difference is the highest in the postwar era (Sahin, Song & Hobijn 1).

This paper seeks to identify whether the recession had an impact in the increase of the gender gap in the rate of unemployment. Furthermore, the paper seeks to point out the reasons why there existed a gap between men and women in terms of unemployment. The objective of this study was therefore to ascertain whether the rate of unemployment in men was higher than that in women and also identify the real causes of the increase in the gap.

Purpose of Data Collection Method

The data collection method was intended to be a summery of data that would prove easy in comparing and analyzing. This, therefore, called for a quantitative approach that would allow the researcher to establish the theoretical assertion that the gap between men and women’s rate of unemployment increased during the recession.

The two main forms of quantitative data collection methods are use of interviews and questionnaires. The purpose of this data collection method is to establish the experiences of men and women during the recession period. Through the questions to be submitted to the respondents, it would be easy to meet the objectives of the study. The respondents will be able to point out the reasons why they were jobless or why they think they never lost their jobs during that period.

The study therefore developed questionnaires that would be distributed to several respondents. Apart from using distributed questionnaires, some of the respondents were subjected to direct interviews. The interview part involved face to face interview and telephone interviews. The use of interviews and questionnaires served a great purpose of establishing the respondents’ experiences.

Target Audience

It goes without argument that the age of employment ranges from eighteen to 45. This was categorically the target age of the sample used in this study. Although people of more than 45 years are still capable of working, they were excluded from this research. This also applied to youth less than 18 years. In order to adequately meet the objective, an equal number of both men and women was used in the study. This was aimed at avoiding bias in the final result.

For instance, use of more women could lead to a tilt in the result with women getting more weight. The study also laid emphasis on the geographical aspect of the problem of recess. It involved three states, South Carolina, North Carolina and Texas. The study also included interviews with relevant people from the department of the Bureau of Labor Statistics which is a body that would give pertinent information on labor flow within the period characterized by recession.

Requested Information

The objective of this study was to ascertain whether the gap between men and women on the rate of unemployment increased. And if it increased, the study intended to point out the reasons why it did so. In order to get accurate information on the objectives, it is relevant to request information on whether or not the respondent was employed during and before the recession period. This would be an important pillar upon which the study would identify whether the cause of his/her unemployment was as a result of the recession.

It was also necessary to identify the educational and skill level of the respondents. By understanding the level and type of skills and education, it is easy to know the sector and level of employment ladder that the respondent was working. This could have contributed greatly to the termination of his services. This was necessary because they are the reasons that allow one to get a job or lose it. For those who had lost their jobs, reasons for doing so was requested.

It was also important to identify the sector in which the respondent was working. This was relevant because the effect of the recession was not uniform in all sectors. Some sectors were hit harder than others. On the other hand, it is clear that some sectors are more tilted towards men than women. For instance, construction and manufacturing sectors are mostly male oriented.

If the recess hit hard on these sectors, it could be understood why there were more unemployed men than women. Interviewing the administration is also necessary because it offers information and data on the inflow and outflow in unemployment. It also offers data on the gap between men and women.

The Questionnaire Used

Individual Part

1. Were you employed in the period between 2007 and 2009?
2. In which sector were you employed?
3. If no, were you employed earlier and lost your job or you had not been employed?
4. What is your skill level in relation to the job you were doing?
5. What is the highest education level you can prove?
6. What period did you spend outside employment?
7. What is the relationship between the skills in your current job and the job you lost during the recession?
8. Did you look for another job within your former sector after the service of the other job was terminated?
9. Did you manage to secure one?
10. Given opportunity, would you return to your former sector?

Administration Part

1. What was the rate of inflow and outflow into employment during 2007 and 2009?
2. Is there a notable difference between men and women?
3. What are the sectoral differences in the rates?
4. What was the average duration of unemployment?
5. Was there a notable difference in duration in terms of gender?
6. How does the gap of unemployment between men and women compare in the period before 2007, during the recession and after 2009?

Works Cited

Sahin, Aysegul., Joseph Song & Bart Hobijn. “The Unemployment Gender Gap during the 2007 Recession.” Current Issues in Economics and Finance, 16.2 (2010): 1-8. Print.