- Conference
- 2026 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 17 October 2025
- Decision
- Carried
The Women of the North Report of 2024, published by Health Equity North stated that:
• Employment rates for women in the North are lower than the 72% national average; they are 69.8% in the North East, 71.2% in the North West, and 70.8% in Yorkshire and the Humber.
• Rates of economic inactivity among women in the North are higher than the national average (24.2%) at 26.9% in the North East, 25.5% in the North West, and 25.6 in Yorkshire and the Humber.
• Median weekly wages for women in the North are below the national average for those in both full-time and part-time employment.
• Only 6.1% of employed women living in the North East are Managers, Directors, or Senior Officials. This is lower than national average (8.5%) and considerably lower than in London (10.9%)
Conference recognises it is vital women’s voices and needs are recognised and central to the decision making around how adult learning and skills funding is allocated and spent.
Upcoming English devolution deals will see more control over funding for workforce development and adult skills which will help tailor training to match local job market needs,
support both employed and unemployed residents and improve access to good jobs and fair wages across the regions.
Women should benefit from devolved power and funding for work and skills, to give them the opportunities to secure better paid and secure jobs and we must learn from successes in already devolved nations and areas on how best to do this.
New opportunities and funding should prioritise good, unionised, workplaces and jobs to ensure workers’ rights are protected and enhanced at all times.
The Women of the North concluded the following recommendations to improve work for women in the North:
• Extra educational support targeted at the areas of greatest deprivation and need to support women’s education
• Support should be given to help those from more disadvantaged areas to access qualification and skills opportunities.
• Local government and central government should link to offer flexible further education and training for women together with large employers such as the NHS.
• Childcare and skills should be linked through family hubs and next generation Sure Start centres, recognising it is harder for women with children to access opportunities for education.
• Employers and employer organisations should be supported to upskill their female employees allowing flexibility around working practices and caring needs.
• Carers rights should be implemented into working practices and enforced.
Therefore, conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to:
Conduct research into existing schemes in devolved regions and nations upskilling of women in the workforce and identify work and opportunities to further the recommendations of the Women of the North report.
Work with Labour Link Committee to ensure devolution governance structures are representative and women’s voices are heard.
Work with LAOS develop training packages for branches and women members on identifying opportunities for women to have a voice and influence in their workplaces and in devolved areas.
Report back to Women’s Conference 2027.
