Politicians hit out at ‘alarming’ jobs gap in Renfrewshire
Figures reveal far less women than men in employment
The employment gap between men and women in Renfrewshire is now worse than it was ten years ago.
According to newly-released statistics by the Scottish Government, the difference in the employment rate between men and women in the local authority worsened in 2019 by almost one per cent in comparison to the figures in 2009.
However, the figures have improved from 2018 when the gap was recorded as 7.8 per cent.
The current gender employment gap in Renfrewshire is six per cent.
The report shows the employment picture in Renfrewshire is similar to other local authorities across Scotland, which all favour men.
Only two regions in the country buck the trend - the Western Isles and West Dunbartonshire.
A total of 4,000 more men are currently working in the local authority in comparison to in 2009 - an increase of 5.3 per cent.
Employment for women has also improved by 2,700 people within the decade - an increase of 4.6 per cent.
Politicians across Renfrewshire have criticised the figures, with Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Mhairi Black slamming the figures as “disappointing”.
She added: “It is not surprising to see this gap in gender employment in Renfrewshire.
“It is alarming and raises questions when women are getting better grades at school and taking up more places at universities and colleges than their male counterparts.
“Discrimination towards women in the workplace still exists.
“The awareness raised recently through efforts such as the Me Too campaign has highlighted this.
“More needs to be done in the next decade to see these statistics improve.”
Other politicians agreed that work must continue to be done to ensure women are being given enough support to “level the playing field”.
Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP Gavin Newlands said the expansion of the Early Years Learning and Childcare provision is aimed to support families and ensure both men and women have equal opportunities in relation to employment and childcare.
He said: “Although the improvement over the last year is welcome, it’s still clear that we have a lot more to do to close the gender gap and have real equality of opportunity for women on a level playing field.
“The Scottish Government’s huge increase in Early Years Learning and Childcare provision – while unfortunately delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic – is aimed at providing the kind of transformational support needed to open up the labour market to more women and in particular those on low incomes.
“We also need a real recognition of the role men can and should be playing in supporting women in their careers and their working lives, with increase parental leave and a bigger emphasis on the role of shared parental leave when it comes to childcare.
“It’s up to all of us to challenge gender bias across the board whenever we see it to help make the fundamental changes we need in society that will help close this gap and ensure that level playing field.”
George Adam MSP
Paisley MSP George Adam highlighted the 2018 Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act - which was put in place to improve the representation of women on the boards of Scottish public authorities.
He said: “Although it is incredibly positive to see employment levels have increased over the past ten years in Renfrewshire, it is still important that we continue to break down the barriers preventing people from accessing gainful and rewarding employment.
“While Scotland continues to outperform the rest of the UK on women’s employment, we know there is more to do.
“Ultimately, it is essential that we all keep having open and transparent discussions within our communities, workplaces, and with our colleagues and employers to continue removing obstacles from the paths of those seeking to join or re-enter the workplace.”
West Scotland MSP Neil Bibby added: “What these figures tell us is that when we rebuild the economy after the Covid-19 crisis, we cannot go back to the way things were.
“Inequalities in the workplace must be confronted and women’s work in sectors like social care, cleaning and catering must be properly valued.
“Society should recognise the sheer volume of unpaid domestic and care work done by women and help to redistribute that work.
“That’s one of the reasons we need more affordable childcare and a better social care system.
“The Covid-19 crisis has acted as a mirror to many of the inequalities that have persisted for too long in Scotland.
“Many of the essential workers we have come to depend on during this crisis, like shopworkers and home carers, are low-paid women on unsecured contracts.
“The recovery has to work for women, it has to work for everyone and it has to mean building a better, fairer, more inclusive economy.”
Discrimination towards women in the workplace still exists. More needs to be done in the next decade