Gender Equality: why it matters for businesses and local economies

Transcription

1 Gender Equality: why it matters for businesses and local economies Professor Sue Yeandle University of Leeds Formerly Director, Gender and Employment in Local Labour Markets Research Programme IPPR Conference Equal measures? The business case for gender equality, 16 May 2007, Preston Town Hall

2 Gender as a key issue in local labour markets The labour market is STILL highly gendered In what men and women do The sectors in which they work How they engage with paid employment The rewards they get from their jobs Large differences between local labour markets Shape of local industry Local labour market trends Key issues: Working below potential Access to employment and jobs Ethnicity Care responsibilities

3 Employed women who work part-time by age: England ALL Source: Census 2001, Crown Copyright, reproduced with the permission of HMSO

4 Employed men who work parttime by age: England ALL Source: Census 2001, Crown Copyright, reproduced with the permission of HMSO

5 Working Below Potential Not using proven skills, qualifications and experience in current job 54% of women in PT jobs 2.8 million women nationwide Main cause: how jobs/employment are structured Wastes valuable talent - cost to employers, the economy, women, families Could be changed by creating better quality PT jobs Source: Grant, L, Yeandle, S & Buckner, L (2006) Working Below Potential: women and part-time employment Sheffield: Centre for Social Inclusion (

6 Stuck outside employment - but wanting to work Many employers report labour and skill shortages..but million women in England cannot find a job Major problem in poorer communities In some wards women s unemployment rates are 4 times the national average For some ethnic groups 8 times higher Women care deeply about this: I feel terrible about not working. I m very conscious of it. I really do feel it. It would be nice to provide for myself and my children. Source: Escott, K and Buckner, L (2006) Addressing Women s Poverty: local labour market initiatives Sheffield: Centre for Social Inclusion

7 Many women want paid work economically inactive but want work unemployed UE + EI who want to work Birmingham 18% 8% 33,000 Camden 34% 7% 6,000 Sandwell 22% 8% 10,500 Thurrock 27% 4% 4,200 Wakefield 29% 2% 7,300 England 23% 4% 1,375,400 Data relates to women aged Source: ONS, Annual Population Survey, December 2004 March 2005, Crown Copyright.

8 Ethnic minority women: change amid persistent inequality Rapidly becoming better qualified But concentrated in particular labour market segments Facing a concrete ceiling in terms of career advancement High levels of unemployment in some Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities Many ethnic minority women report disadvantage, discrimination, harassment Source: Yeandle, S, Stiell, B & Buckner, L (2006) Ethnic Minority women and access to the labour market Sheffield: Centre for Social Inclusion

9 Women aged who were graduates, by ethnicity: 1991/2001 Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Black Caribbean Black African White* All women % of women aged who were GRADUATES Graduate women aged who were IN EMPLOYMENT Source: 2001 and 1991 Census SARs. Census output is Crown copyright and is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland. This work is based on the SARs provided through the Centre for Census and Survey Research of the University of Manchester with the support of ESRC and JISC.1 *In the 1991 Census White British was not a separate category.

10 Economically active women aged by whether UK-born: 1991/2001 % White Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Black Caribbean Black African 1991 UK born Non-UK born UK born Non-UK born Source: 2001 and 1991 Census SARs. Census output is Crown copyright and is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland. This work is based on the SARs provided through the Centre for Census and Survey Research of the University of Manchester with the support of ESRC and JISC.

11 Women s Unemployment by ethnicity: best/worst Neighbourhood Renewal areas White British Indian Bangladeshi Pakistani Black Carib. Average UE (England) Average UE (NRU areas) NR areas Lowest UE NR areas Highest UE Source: Buckner, L Yeandle, S & Botcherby, S (2007) Ethnic Minority Women & Local Labour Markets Manchester EOC

12 Caring responsibilities Childcare becoming universal - still costly - poor in meeting special needs - patchy Entitlements not geared to parents: mother focus 3 million working carers growing numbers, relied on by state, often mature employees 58% of carers working FT are MEN 89% of carers working PT are WOMEN Source: Who Cares Wins: statistical annex Buckner, L & Yeandle, S (2006) London: Carers UK - Flexible working works for parents, for carers, for employers and for the state

13 How flexible working benefits a business EMPLOYER BENEFITS Productivity gains Cost savings recruitment, estates, systems Customer satisfaction up More creativity and energy Reduced sick leave Lower staff turnover A trust-based relationship EMPLOYEE BENEFITS More self-esteem, loyalty, responsibility, autonomy Better work atmosphere Improved communication Reciprocity we all work better when we are here Peace of mind, happier at home and at work Based on: Who Cares Wins: the social and business benefits of supporting working carers Yeandle, S et al (2006) London: Carers UK

14 Policy context for gender equality Women and Work Commission consultation and report (2006) The Commission for Equality and Human Rights Public sector duty to promote gender equality (Equality Act 2006) National/local labour market challenges: Skills, education and employment meeting global challenges Care, pensions and health sustaining a changing population amid demographic change transport, regeneration and the environment

15 For information about the GELLM Research Programme * or about the University of Leeds research and publications on gender equality and on carers and employment, see: CIRCLE is the University of Leeds Centre for International Research on Care, Labour & Equalities Co-Directors: Prof. Sue Yeandle & Prof. Fiona Williams CIRCLE s Senior Research Fellows include Dr Cinnamon Bennett and Dr Lisa Buckner s.m.yeandle@leeds.ac.uk * The GELLM Research Programme was based at the Centre for Social Inclusion, Sheffield Hallam University between Sept 2003 & Aug 2006