Mark Whitehead 15 June 2023

Closing council gender gap could boost output £23bn

Closing council gender gap could boost output £23bn image
Image: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock.com.

Closing the gender employment gap in UK local authorities would increase economic output by £23bn or 1% of GDP, according to campaigners.

The Centre for Progressive Policy CPP, Pregnant then Screwed and Women in Data say increasing paid leave for fathers would help close the gap between average pay for men and women.

Their report, Leave in the lurch: Paternity leave, gender equality and the UK economy, says the UK has the least generous paternity leave entitlement in Europe and no parental leave options are available to one in five fathers following the birth or adoption of their child.

They are calling on the Government to increase paternity leave to a minimum of six weeks and to pay it at 90% of income in line with current statutory maternity pay.

They say: 'New CPP analysis of OECD data finds that countries with more than six weeks of paid paternity leave have a 4 percentage point smaller gender wage gap and 3.7 percentage point smaller labour force participation gap than countries that have less than six weeks.

'Closing the gender employment gap in all UK local authorities would increase economic output by £23bn (approximately 1% of GDP).'

Joeli Brearley, CEO and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, comments, 'We finally have evidence that boosting paternity leave will reduce the gender pay gap, improve the health of both parents and it will benefit the economy.

'Paternity leave is not a luxury but a necessity.'

Sign up here to receive our free daily news and jobs bulletin.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Resource Centre Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 - £38,220 per annum pro rata
You will work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the children you are caring for Morton on Swale, Northallerton
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Social Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Adults Social Worker - Mid Essex

Essex County Council
£37185 - £50081 per annum
Register your interest here to be notified of upcoming Social Worker opportunities within Essex County Council's Adult Social Care services in Mid Es England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner