The natural pattern of recession is usually defined by a general slowdown in economic activity, and a resulting decline in government spending. Under such conditions, the loss of jobs is a familiar side-effect of the bitter medicine of companies cutting costs. 

Women, who are more highly concentrated in fields such as government, healthcare and education, are less immediately affected by the economic downturn in comparison to male dominated fields. Blue collar industries such as construction and manufacturing are more sensitive to the economy, as recession results in a rapid fall in demand for such services. This means jobs disappear faster and in larger quantities. Women in the public sector are also protected by unions, unlike the less-regulated private sector. However, when governments do eventually cut back, females suffer profoundly.
Contractionary fiscal policy, often one pursued in recession, causes cuts in public education and public-sector service jobs. Any government spending designed to remobilize the economy is often directed towards stimulating investment, for instance in infrastructure, rather than injecting resources into public sector industries. Thus, the reemployment rates for men are more distinct, despite the initial debacle.

Inequality is also an influencing factor. While women have come a long way in reducing the disparity between the proportion of men and women in the labour force, and gaining higher representation in better-paid jobs, some employers may believe that male workers will clock longer hours or be less of a liability during times of economic hardship, despite anti-discrimination laws. Perhaps the most poignant representation of this is that female leaders in the high end of the employment pool are significantly affected by the recession; females at the most senior levels of companies are 3 times more likely to lose jobs than