UK 's recovery plans must address gender inequality - report

Gender equality must be at the heart of the UK 's green and fair recovery, according to a new PwC report that underlines the extent to which women 's career progression and opportunities continue to be disproportionately hampered by the pandemic.

The research, based on a survey of 4,000 people in the UK, outlines how women are more likely than men to feel that the pandemic has damaged their career prospects, as well as highlighting a lack of awareness in relation to the job opportunities presented by the growing green economy.

It was found that women aged between 18 and 24 are more likely to report their job security has got worse (23 per cent) compared to men of the same age (17 per cent).

One in five women with children under the age of 18 said that the pandemic has had a negative impact on their career progression, with 16 per cent of male parents reporting the same.

Women are also more likely to report worsened health (both mental and physical) with 43 per cent of those aged between 18 and 24 saying their mental wellbeing worsened during the pandemic.

The report, Targeting Gender Equality, sets out five recommendations that require close collaboration among employers and Government to overcome these disparities.

These include:

• Bring gender balance to the green revolution - 63 per cent of survey respondents supported investment in green jobs but more than half (54 per cent) of women in the Midlands say they lacked skills for a green job compared to 28 per cent of the men surveyed.

• Legislative measures to support women in work - nearly half of the people surveyed in the Midlands support targeted career support for women to access traditional male-dominated industries with 11 per cent calling for more affordable childcare and improved shared parental leave as interventions.

• Embedding equal opportunities in hybrid working models - three quarters of women want more flexibility on working hours from their employer and greater support on returning from maternity leave.

• Measures to boost the confidence of women who are out of work - nearly one in four unemployed women say the pandemic has worsened their access to employment opportunities and one third reported lack of confidence as their primary barrier for returning to work.

• Greater investment in careers advice services at school - only one in four women say the careers advice they received at school helped inform their career decisions.

Ali Breadon (pictured), Midlands Government and Health Industries leader at PwC, said: “The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated what were already deep-rooted gender inequalities in the labour market. This research points to a lack of confidence among women who find themselves out of work, and comparatively fewer opportunities for young women starting out on their careers. This is compounded by the physical and mental health burden faced by many of the women surveyed.

“As we look to the future, we must take the opportunity to address these inequalities and this should be front of mind when planning the recovery. With the continuing momentum of the green revolution and the resulting emergence of new industries, policy-makers and businesses must work side-by-side in bringing about a level playing field which will allow women to play a leading role in shaping the future. ”

Nick Hatton, Midlands Place and Purpose leader at PwC, said: “We can 't achieve the goal of successfully levelling up the UK if half of the population is at a disadvantage from the outset, regardless of where they live.

“The pandemic has accelerated what were already rapid changes in the world of work but this revolution should be of benefit to everyone. It 's crucial, therefore, that gender equality is placed at the heart of the green and fair recovery plans and this will mean further interventions from both employers and policy-makers. ”