Women, jobs

Romney says women lost 580,000 jobs since 2009 There has been a net loss of jobs, but it's now less than what Romney says The current figure is about 198,000, according to U.S. government figures (CNN) -- In Tuesday's presidential debate, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney highlighted the number of women in the unemployment lines during President Barack Obama's term. "In the last four years, women have lost 580,000 jobs. That's the net of what's happened in the last four years," Romney said. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands following the second presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Tuesday, October 16, moderated by CNN's Candy Crowley. See the best photos of the first presidential debate. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama embrace after the debate. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney point fingers at each other. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speak over each other. President Obama and Republican presidential nominee Romney point the finger at each other. CNN's Candy Crowley moderates the second presidential debate between President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. President Obama and Romney clash during the debate. Romney and President Obama interrupt each other during the debate. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and U.S. President Barack Obama debate. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney both speak at the same time. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Obama go head to head. Romney gestures to make a point as President Obama looks on. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney square off. U.S. President Barack Obama listens to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. President Obama promotes his policies as Mitt Romney listens. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addresses a question as President Obama listens. President Obama awaits his turn to speak. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney greet the audience. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and U.S. President Barack Obama greet each other on stage. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney shake hands.6. President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Romney shake hands before the start of the debate. Moderator Candy Crowley of CNN speaks to the audience prior to the start of a town hall-style presidential debate. Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, speaks with members of the audience before the start of the second presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Tuesday, October 16. First lady Michelle Obama awaits the start of the second presidential debate. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife Ann await the start of the second presidential debate in a holding room. The audience gathers in the stands prior to the start of the presidential debate on Tuesday. Co-chairs Frank Fahrenkopf, left, and Mike McCurry of the Commission on Presidential Debates speak in the lead up to the town hall-style debate. Audience members take photographs while they wait for the debate to begin. Members of the audience have taken their seats. The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate The second presidential debate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 The second presidential debate The picture he painted is dire, but a bit dated. Obama, Romney spar over issues Zingers from second presidential debate Ohio Focus Group on low points of debate The facts: The Romney statement would imply that between January 2009 (when Obama took office) and September 2012 (the most recent month for which we have statistics), that 580,000 women have lost their jobs. According to the monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 66.1 million women on nonfarm payrolls in January 2009. In September 2012, that number was 65.8 million. That's a loss of roughly 300,000 jobs -- 283,000, to be precise. So where does the 580,000 jobs lost claim come from? It could be 6 months old. In March, 65.5 million women were employed -- a net loss of 583,000 jobs since January 2009. That would give Romney the magic number. But, since March, 300,000 jobs have been added to the economy, reducing the jobs lost number to 283,000. According to BLS household data (which looks at more than nonfarm payroll), 451,000 women became unemployed between January 2009 and September 2012. During this same time frame, 253,000 women became employed. That's a net loss of 198,000 jobs, far short of the 580,000 claim. Conclusion: If Romney hadn't said, "That's the net of what's happened in the last four years," his statement might have been true. Had Romney made this claim back in March, it would have been true. However, the most recent numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics don't support the statement.