Workforce gender gap closing

18 Mar 2015 12:42 PM

Employment level continues to increase.

Labour Market Statistics published today by the ONS, covering November 2014 to January 2015, show that 2,611,000 people are now in work in Scotland, an increase of 48,000 compared to this time last year. 

Unemployment has fallen by 28,000 over the last year – and is now 75,000 below its recession peak in 2010.

The gap between male and female employment rates has also shrunk to a record low of 3.8 percentage points, compared to 9.6 percentage points for the UK. 

Scotland is continuing to outperform the UK on employment and inactivity rates, with female and youth employment showing particular progress.

Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work Roseanna Cunningham welcomed the latest figures which showed:

• Scotland is outperforming the UK on employment and inactivity rates.
• The female employment level increased whilst the female unemployment level fell over the quarter. 
• Female labour market participation level and rate are at record highs. 
• Youth unemployment fell whilst youth employment increased over the year. The youth unemployment level and rate fell to their lowest since Nov-Jan 2009.
• The Claimant Count level fell by 25.9 per cent over the year to reach its lowest since July 2008.

Ms Cunningham said:

“Today’s statistics show the real progress being made in supporting more women into work with increasing levels of female employment helping close the gender gap.

“The difference in employment rates between men and women has now fallen to 3.8 percentage points, compared to the UK average of 9.6 per cent.

“Our commitment to workplace equality will mean more role models for future generations, once and for all removing any suggestion that your gender has a bearing on your abilities.

“The focus on giving young people the skills employers need is also paying off with youth unemployment falling to its lowest level since Nov-Jan 2009 and youth employment increasing 18,000 since last year.

“We want a modern, inclusive and skilled Scottish workforce that is the envy of other countries. It will help us build a fairer, more equitable Scotland and attract investment from around the world.

“To do that we want a workforce that properly reflects our society.

“It is also imperative to assure people that their contribution to the workplace is valued; that that their work will be rewarded fairly with good wages and development opportunities.

“We have supported this on many fronts; from huge investment in childcare; leading from the front in the gender equality debate and doing all we can to ensure that the young workforce is optimistic about their future.

“Whilst Scotland continues to have a higher employment rate than the UK as a whole, today’s figures show a slight increase in unemployment on the previous quarter. This can be explained, in part, by falling levels of economic inactivity as more people join the labour market and start looking for work.

“Given the increase in the claimant count in both Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire over the last month, difficulties faced by the oil and gas sector may also be a factor – reinforcing the need for Chancellor George Osborne to use today’s budget to at long last take the action on oil taxation we have been calling for since the start of the year.”