- Conference
- 2015 Energy Service Group Conference
- Date
- 16 February 2015
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the much lower number of women who become apprentices in areas such as engineering, construction and information technology, and that occupational segregation within the energy sector is widespread.
Whilst there are apprenticeships available for women, female dominated areas tend to offer lower wages and less chance of career progression, therefore women apprentices are more likely to end up in low paid jobs.
According to a recent TUC report the number of women doing low skilled work has tripled over the last 20 years, even though young women have better academic qualifications than young men. Research shows that of all apprentice starts in 2011/12, the uptake by women was 83% in healthcare, 91% in childcare, 93% in hairdressing whilst only 2% in construction, 3% in engineering and 10% in Information Technology. The report also stated unions, employers and government must work together to provide better careers advice in schools for young women.
To actively encourage women to undertake apprenticeships in the energy sector would send a positive message to young women; lead to better access to better paid work and make further progress in closing the gender pay gap.
Conference therefore calls upon the service group executive to work with employers to promote wider access for women to apprenticeships in areas where they are currently underrepresented.