Gender and Employment in Local Labour Markets

1. Gender and Employment in Local Labour Markets Centre for Social Inclusion Sheffield Hallam University Funded by a research award from HE ESF 2003-6

2. Overview • Background to the Project • Project Aims • Policy Relevance • Research Design • Statistical Analysis • Local Research Studies • Partnerships • Working with West Midlands authorities • Project Outcomes • Timetable

3. Background to the Project (1) • Call for ESF Higher Education Sector National Research Projects(May 2003) • SHU bid submitted to "Researching Gender Discrimination in Employment"(Policy Field 5 Measure 2 July 2003) • Funding awarded to SHU's project: Gender and Employment in Local Labour Markets, supported bythe EOC, TUC and 10 Local Authorities (Sep 2003) • Formal contracting with partners (autumn 2003)

4. Background to the Project (2) Gender inequality in the UK persists in: • occupational segregation and gendered vocational choices • differences in patterns of employment • the gender pay gap • inequalities in caring responsibilities and in support for parents/carers • barriers to women's advancement in the workplace • the need to translate women's improved educational attainments into labour market success

5. The Project Aims to ■ produce a gender-disaggregated statistical profile of a LLM in each region ■ raise awareness about gendered inequality in the LLM in each locality ■ explore issues identified in the statistical evidence in local research studies developed with the LAs and their partner agencies ■ develop a gender mainstreaming strategy for each LLM in collaboration with the LA, local agencies and representatives of employers/ TUs

6. Policy relevance • Fits with policies for achieving equality and social inclusion. • All government departments have endorsed the DTI's PSA objective of achieving improvements in gender equality by 2006 through: • enhancing women's lifetime incomes/economic well-being • maximising women's personal career development • optimising work/life balance • making full use of women's talents • maximising returns on public investments in education & training

7. Research Design • Statistical analysis of Census 2001 and other relevant datasets to produce gender-disaggregated labour market profiles of each LA and selected sub-areas (2004) • Local Research Studies (up to 3 in each LA) on topics arising from the profiles and local consultation process (autumn 2004 – spring 2006) • Comparative analysis of data from the different local labour markets (2005-6) • Gender mainstreaming - feeding the research results into local policy processes and planning (2005-6) • National dissemination event – supported by the national as well as the regional partners (summer 2006)

8. Statistical analysis of labour market and related data • Topics • Demographic context • Education/training • Employment • Pay • Unemployment/economic inactivity; • Diversity • Work-life balance • Key data sources: • Census of Population • Labour Force Survey • Annual Business Inquiry • Statistics of Education • Other government data (DWP etc)

9. Local research studies: approach • to be carried out between autumn 2004 and spring 2006 • most studies will be replicated in at least 5 LAs, to permit comparative analysis • up to 3 studies will be conducted in each LA • detailed decisions, including which studies will be carried out in each LA, will be taken in summer 2004 • RPGs are encouraged to contribute ideas and advice on these studies

10. Local research studies: • Low-Paid Part-time Work: why do women work below their potential? • Building Bridges to Work: Gender, Local Labour Markets and Neighbourhood Projects • Enhancing Employment Opportunities for Women from Black and Minority Ethnic Groups • Factors Affecting Women's Career Development in the Local Authority Sector in England • Women's Poverty and Economic Disadvantage: the impact of regeneration initiatives and developments • The Social Care Workforce

11. Thurrock Trafford West Sussex Leicester Sandwell Birmingham East Staffordshire Somerset Camden Newcastle Wakefield Partnership arrangements (1)Regional partners - Local Authorities each with a Lead Officer and a Census liaison officer

12. Partnership arrangements (2) • Regional Project Groups • link with each LA's local partners • meet at least 4 times to guide and advise the project • Role of each RPG • stimulate local interest / commitment • enable the participation of employers, trade unions, relevant government agencies & voluntary organisations • offer ideas and guidance on local employment and labour market issues • link the project to relevant local policy agendas and activities • support the events organised to disseminate the gender profiles of the local labour market & to publicise / discuss the research findings

13. Partnership arrangements (3) • National Partners • Equal Opportunities Commission • TUC • national employer organisations (tbc) • National Advisory Group • SHU Senior Team • representative of each partner LA • representative of each national partner • 3 independent experts

14. Working with Somerset CC • SHU's lead is Sue Yeandle • Liaison on statistical aspects: Lisa Buckner • Council lead officer: Ann Copsey • Census liaison officer: Carrie Williams • Local project team

15. Outcomes ■ Gender profiles of LLMs in the 9 GO regions. ■ Reports of the LLM research studies in each locality ■ Awareness raising/action planningevents - 2 events in each LLM ■ Final report ■ National dissemination conference ■ Longer term outcomes: • gender mainstreaming strategies in each LA; • development of evidence based policy actions to combat discrimination against women in employment; • increased effectiveness of local initiatives on employment

16. Management arrangements (1) • Regular Project team meetings at SHU • Clear allocation of responsibilities for liaison with each partner • Statistical analysis team led by Dr Buckner • Each Local Research Study will have a project lead (Dr Grant is leading the study on "PT work and low pay" which has EOC sponsorship) • Partners can contact us at any time

17. Management arrangements (2) • Each LA has completed a Public Match Funding Certificate and signed a letter of agreement with SHU • Each partner takes responsibility for evidencing their match funding contributions • Detailed guidance on submitting match funding evidence – please contact Ian Chesters or Tim Strickland for advice • Partners are welcome to secure cash from other bodies as part of their contribution • Match funding must not include ESF funding on other projects

18. Timetable • RPGs Feb & Jun 04; Jan & Jun 05; Jan & Jun 06 • NAG Apr 04; Sep/Oct 04; Jul 05; Apr 06 • Regional Events: autumn 04; spring 06 • Statistical results: from Easter 04 • Local Research Studies: autumn 04 – spring 06 • Research Study results: from late 05 • National report and conference: July 06

19. The GELLM project is led by Prof. Sue Yeandle Director Centre for Social Inclusion Sheffield Hallam University Administrator: Ian Chesters Tel. 0114 225 4690 email: I.Chesters@shu.ac.uk Statistical lead: Dr Lisa Buckner Research Fellow in Social Statistics Tel: 0114 225 4686 email: l.buckner@shu.ac.uk Match Funding Adviser Tim Strickland Te:l 0114 225 3966 email: t.strickland@shu.ac.uk Contacting the team