News / Education
Close the gender gap in better paid jobs
The government has been urged to improve the take-up of apprenticeships in construction, IT and engineering by the MP for Bristol South, Karin Smyth.
She claims that 80 per cent of apprentices in Bristol South work in retail, health/social care and business administration – careers with traditionally lower wages.
“We need more in construction, engineering and IT – pathways which offer better salary prospects and more secure employment,” the Labour MP says.
is needed now More than ever
She claims the situation is particularly acute for women in her constituency: “We also need more girls and young women getting involved in these apprenticeships which lead to higher-earning careers.
“There are concerns nationally that women are not breaking in to these potentially more lucrative trades and professions.”
In her constituency Ms Smyth says over the past five years 400 men took construction skills and engineering apprenticeships however, not one woman had.
“This means female apprentices here in south Bristol are likely to end up in jobs with lower wages and less secure employment than their male counterparts.”
“It can’t be the case that no young women in Bristol South are capable of taking on these apprenticeships so I’ll continue challenging the government,” she added.
(Photo Credit Major Oli Morgan REME – Crown Copyright 2015)