A recent study shows that unemployment does not impact males and females in the same way (Newsweek, April 20, 2009). According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, 8.5% of those who are eligible to work are unemployed. The unemployment rate is 8.8% for eligible men and only 7.0% for eligible women. Suppose 52% of the eligible workforce in the U.S. consists of men.
a. You have just heard that another worker in a large firm has been laid off. What is the probability that this worker is a man?