Women still face low employment rates in manual or maintenance roles in local government despite a number of councils making positive changes.
A recent freedom of information (FOI) request sent by builder’s merchant Travis Perkins demonstrates the striking gender imbalance amongst employees working in manual and maintenance roles in local government.
Out of the 24 councils who responded, just three have more women than men working in manual or maintenance roles, with North Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council evidencing the most disproportionate ratio of male and female employees.
Furthermore, 16 of the councils reported that they hired more men than women for manual or maintenance roles within the last three years.
Thirteen of the councils who responded to the FOI reported their commitment to recruitment policies and diversity initiatives implemented to bolster the representation of women within the industry.
However, ‘more needs to be done’ to improve recruitment and retention of women in the manual and maintenance work sector, Natalie Ashcroft, HR business partner at Travis Perkins, added.
