Although restructuring and associated job losses clearly have a significant financial and psychological impact on all workers, it is widely acknowledged that the detrimental effect of job losses is exacerbated for certain groups who find reintegration into the labour market more difficult. This is particularly true for low-skilled or unskilled workers, single mothers and women with caring responsibilities, as well as older workers. The danger and likelihood of a prolonged spell of unemployment following redundancy is much greater for individuals from these groups than for highly-skilled workers and those with professional qualifications in areas with shortages of
