When the U.S. economy began slowing down in 2007, women were in more danger of losing their jobs than men.

Between February 2007 and February this year, unemployment rate for U.S. women rose from 3.5 percent to 3.8 percent while that for U.S. men rose from 4.4 percent to 4.5 percent.
But now the tables have been turned.
Between February 2008 and February this year, unemployment rate for men has risen faster than that for women, regardless of their education or age, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The unemployment rate for men went up to 9 percent, while that for women went up to 6.2 percent.
Last year, the jobless rates for men aged between 35 and 44, and between 45 and 54 - considered the prime of their careers - were under the national average.
But the rates this year, at 8.5 percent and 8.7 percent respectively, are now above the U.S. average.
The jobless rates for women in the same age groups are just 6.4 percent and 5.7 percent respectively.
The unemployment rate for women aged 25 and older was 6.2 percent this February, compared to 9 percent for men - the largest difference between the sexes since 1948.
Women more educated
Economist Mark Perry of the University of Michigan in Flint said there were two main reasons for the male-heavy effect.
He told The Chicago Tribune the recession began with crashes in the male-dominated construction, manufacturing and financial sectors, while the female-dominated sectors of education and healthcare were faring well.
The other reason was higher education.
Since 1981, he said women earned 135 bachelor's degrees for every 100 awarded to men and 150 master's degrees for every 100 awarded to men.
He said such figures made a difference as the unemployment rate for college graduates was less than half that for high-school graduates.
The data north of the border is no better.
According to Statistics Canada, employment for men aged between 25 and 54 fell by 170,000 jobs since October, four times more than that for women, reported the Globe and Mail.
The Anxiety Disorders Association of Ontario noted that 20 percent more men are registering for anxiety management workshops.
In south-western Ontario, more men are also calling distress centers with as much as a 22 percent increase in areas with losses in manufacturing jobs, a male bastion.
Men calling crisis lines in Calgary in the last few months have also been 40 percent more likely to cite financial stress.
The number of crisis calls at the Women's Emergency Centre tripled this winter, many of them arising from economic pressures.
(Source: asiaone.com)