Most of the poor are working adults and children. Household incomes are threatened by worsening labour markets with declining employment opportunities and decreasing real wages, especially for workers in low-wage sectors. Many of those currently employed have just escaped poverty and are therefore highly susceptible to modest falls in income and economic activity, pushing them back into poverty (World Bank, 2010b). Women are especially threatened: in most countries, labour market participation of women is lower and unemployment rates are higher.