Women
have seen a continuous improvement in their position in the UK labour market
over the last decade, with employment at the highest-ever level, according to
National Statistics.
The
March issue of Labour Markets Trends reports the employment rate for working-age
women was 69.3 per cent at last measure (in spring 2001).
This
figure is the highest ever recorded, but still noticeably lower than the 79.3
per cent rate for working men, stated the report.
The
differential between men and women is now under 10 percentage points – compared
with 14 points in spring 1991.
In
all, 43 per cent of employed women work part time, compared to eight per cent
of men.
The
report said the presence of dependent children influenced figures. The
percentage of women with dependent children employed was 53.9, compared to 72.2
without.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Women
workers are still concentrated in a narrow range of occupations: 50 per cent of
women are employed in administrative, secretarial, personal service, sales or
customer service occupations, compared to 12 per cent of men.
