London has long promoted itself as a hub for employment, offering the greatest opportunities for talented workers from across the UK. Changes in the capital’s ethnic demographics are being reflected in employment statistics, but analysis of the way that women are working in London highlights some fundamental questions about who this city is really working for.
Women are statistically less likely to be employed in London than anywhere else in the country (64 per cent as opposed to a UK average of 67 per cent), and significantly less likely to be employed than London’s men (78 per cent). There are more females graduating each year in the UK than men and they achieve better classes of degrees yet recent research shows that female graduates expect to earn £24k, or 14 per cent less than male graduates.
Can this salary difference be attributed to the choice of subjects and careers, and if so is this case exacerbated in London’s unique economy? To look at the the City’s big private sector employers, just 7 per cent of FTSE 100 executive directors, and just over 5 per cent in the FTSE 250, are female.
We want to debate the big factors behind these statistics, and ask what can and should be done to address the disparities. Join us to discuss how we can best ensure fair access to employment in London and make ours a city that gives the best possible opportunities for the women who live here.