Page 24 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan

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Sector 2006
Male Female Male Female 2006-2015
-20.2% -30.3% 47.1% 37.1% 42.0% 27.1% -31.1% -15.1% 27.2%
2015 Difference for Females between
Advanced Materials 87,300
20,800 69,100 16,600 (81%) (19%) (81%) (19%)
& Manufacturing
Construction 115,000
(88%) (12%) (90%) (10%)
15,800 102,000 11,000
Creative Industries 18,700
(59%) (41%) (61%) (39%)
Environment
Food & Farming 31,600
(73%) (27%) (67%) (33%)
Professional Services
ICT 23,500
(72%) (28%) (75%) (25%)
(53%) (47%)
13,200 30,200 19,400
Energy & 122,900
26,400 121,200 36,200 (82%) (18%) (77%) (23%)
11,600 34,200 16,500
Financial & 52,400
47,600 75,600 60,500 (52%) (48%) (56%) (44%)
Life Sciences 7,900
(60%) (40%) (67%) (33%)
9,100 18,200 6,200
5,200 8,900 4,400 49,300 69,700 62,700
Tourism 49,400
(50%) (50%)
The table depicts that an area of particular concern is the stark lack of women employed within the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Construction, Energy and Environment and ICT sectors in comparison to men. With the exception of the Energy and Environment sector the level of female employment within these sectors has decreased significantly since 2006. A disparity within sectoral employment can result in gender pay gaps, a disproportion within skills development and a lack of access to the same opportunities and progression.
For instance, given the alignment of the aforementioned sectors to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sector this is particularly worrying, given the perceived benefits of pursuing a career in this area; ‘the gap in starting salary between men and women who have studied STEM subjects and go on to take jobs in those spheres is smaller than in any other subjects studied. If more women were to pursue careers in these areas, not only would it give them a more balanced portfolio of skills, but it would also narrow the gender pay gap for those in the early years of their working lives.’22
There is much research to suggest that solving the gender pay gap would need a focussed effort on increasing the profile of STEM subjects among young female learners.
22 https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/Growth/deloitte-uk-women-in-stem-pay-gap-2016.pdf
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Policy Context