Women less optimistic about economic recovery than men

YouGov infographic shows gender gap in confidence in economic recovery widening.

Recent good news about the economy seems to be leaving women cold, according to statistics released the polling organisation YouGov.

YouGov has been asking respondents how they thought the financial situation of their household would change over the next 12 months since 2011.

While men’s financial expectations have moved from net minus 46 per cent from 2011 to minus 13 per cent in to 2014, women’s expectations have moved improved from minus 54 per cent to minus 27 per cent in the same period.

The gap between men’s and women’s expectations is widening as women are now 10 per cent more likely to say their finances will be worse in a years’ time than men's when in previous years the gap was 7 per cent.

These trends are also reflected in women’s approval of the government’s handling of the economy.

Men’s approval of the government’s ongoing economic record went up from minus 16 per cent in 2011 to minus 1 per cent in 2014, women’s approval rating on the economy currently stands at minus 14 per cent, up from minus 24 per cent in 2011.

YouGov offers a number of possible explanations:

Firstly, women have been hit harder by benefit cuts.

Secondly, they are - were - more likely to work in the public sector, which has experienced cuts and job losses.

And thirdly, they are more likely to be hit hard by recessions generally as many women tend to occupy low skilled, insecure jobs which are the first to suffer.

Story published in Women's Views on News, 2 May 2014.