EMPLOYERS and women looking for work have an equal responsibility to put a stop to the rising number of women in unemployment.

That’s according to the area's recruitment specialists, who say bosses need to make hours more family friendly and mums need to do more to find the right job.

Unemployment among women has hit its highest level for over 20 years.

In East Lancashire the number of out-of-work women looking for a job stands at 4,321, having risen by 125 in the last month alone, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Laura Hartley, who runs a recruitment consultancy in Accrington Road, Blackburn, said the rising cost of childcare was a major reason women have left employment.

“It will depend on the salary if it is worth the mum going back to work especially if they are a two-parent family.

"As our own parents are having to work longer it is less likely grandparents can take over the childcare.”

Kirsty Walker of CGA Recruitment, Blackburn agreed.

She believes women were having children at an earlier age and so found it difficult to step on to the career ladder.

She said: “There are not enough incentives to return to work due to the benefits system and rising costs in childcare.”

Losses in the public sector where women do a large proportion of clerical work is being blamed for the rise, which sees numbers at their highest since the late eighties.

Wendy Bowers, president elect for East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said: “The last year has seen the steepest rise in unemployment for women for nearly a quarter of a century.

“The hardest hit professions have been public sector, health and retail, the industries which traditionally have employed more women than men.”

And the experts say employers could do more to help women with families.

Laura Hartley said employers could consider a later start time or early finish time so that women could drop children off at school or collect them.

Kirsty Walker added: “Job shares would lower NI costs to employers, offering flexi time for new mums and organisations having a family friendly approach.”

And Wendy Bowers said: “It's actually policies which need to change.

"In order to encourage women and lone parents to work, the UK must adopt policies which ensure that childcare is affordable and on the doorstep, either at local village and town centres, as in France, or at places of employment.”

But it’s also up to the women themselves to ensure they are as attractive to employers.

Laura Hartley’s tips include;

  • Keeping your skills up to date
  • Ensuring your CV is detailed
  • If you are a returner back to work, offer the employer a working interview
  • Only apply for jobs you are suitable for (if you are unsuccessful this can really knock your confidence)
  • Be proactive
  • Keep positive

She added: “Look out for clubs and workshops. There are specialist companies who help women build their confidence to go and find their next role.

“You must be proactive. That new job isn’t going to drop on your lap.

Kirsty Walker added: “Invest in bringing skills up-to date. Focus on and identify your skills, strengths and achievements.

"For mothers, look at part-time or term-time work.

"Temping, voluntary work or work shadowing can help build skills.”

The number of people claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance in East Lancashire has risen by 2,136 in the last year to 13,351.

The number of women looking for work stands at 4,321, having risen by 125 in the last month alone.

In Burnley, the number of unemployed people has risen by 352 in the last year and 45 in the last month, and stands at 2,640.

That increase of 45 includes 44 women.

Rossendale has also seen a steep rise of 105 people, including 27 women, claim JSA in the last month.

The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, show unemployment figures at 2.57 million, with women among the worst affected.

Wendy Bowers advised women to look at the self employment.

“In many cases it is truly difficult for a woman who has been made redundant to find work and many women are turning to self employment as a positive choice,” said Burnley based Wendy.

“Self employment gives a woman flexibility, opportunities to work from home and can in many instances need no more than a PC as start up equipment.”