Women less likely to be employed in Midlands

WOMEN in the West Midlands appear to be having a far tougher battle to find work.

Figures suggest women are about a fifth less likely than men to be employed despite a rise in the employment rate which now stands at almost 75 per cent.

The rate of employment for women in the region was 51.9 per cent between December 2016 and February 2017, 17.9 per cent lower than that of men where the total is 63.3 per cent, latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal. The gap was bigger than the national average at 16 per cent.

Between September and November 2004, women in the West Midlands saw their highest employment per cent.

The lowest percentage was between December and February 1993 and July and September 1992, with an employment rate at 47.1 per cent.

The latter was also the biggest gap in employment rates against 64.7 per cent for men, a 27.2 per cent gap.

During the three months to February this year, the total number of employed women was 1.2 million, while for men it was 1.4 million.

Across the UK, women were less likely to be employed than men, 55.4 per cent against 65.8 per cent for men, a gap of 16 per cent. rate at 53.2