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

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

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 by the EOC, TUC and 10 Local Authorities (Sep 2003)

Formal contracting with partners (autumn 2003)

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

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

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

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)

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)

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

Local research studies:1. Low-Paid Part-time Work: why do women work

below their potential?2. Building Bridges to Work: Gender, Local

Labour Markets and Neighbourhood Projects3. Enhancing Employment Opportunities for

Women from Black and Minority Ethnic Groups4. Factors Affecting Women's Career

Development in the Local Authority Sector in England

5. Women's Poverty and Economic Disadvantage: the impact of regeneration initiatives and developments

6. The Social Care Workforce

Partnership arrangements (1)

Regional partners - Local Authorities each with a Lead Officer and a Census liaison officer

Thurrock Trafford West Sussex Leicester Sandwell

Birmingham East Staffordshire Somerset Camden Newcastle Wakefield

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

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

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

Outcomes ■ Gender profiles of LLMs in the 9 GO regions. ■ Reports of the LLM research studies in each

locality ■ Awareness raising/action planning events - 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

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

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

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

Contacting the team 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 4686email: l.buckner@shu.ac.uk

Match Funding Adviser Tim Strickland

Te:l 0114 225 3966email: t.strickland@shu.ac.uk