Men vs. Women: Whose Jobs Are at Risk?

Are you in a secure
profession?

If the recession persists, you'll be more likely than your husband to hang onto your job. Why? In part, because women tend to choose professions in service industries, such as health care and education, which remain in demand even during tough times. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to work in manufacturing and construction, which are harder hit when consumer spending declines. But should a pink slip come your way, chances are you'd handle the stress better than a man would, too.

Says Ann Marie Ryan, Ph.D., president of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, in Bowling Green, Ohio, "Women have greater social support networks to help them cope."