On Wednesday 24th May, a question to the Scottish Government by SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire, revealed that Scotland’s female employment rate is higher than the UK’s – with 70.8% compared to 70.2%.
The Labour Market Monthly Briefing Summary Tables for May 2017 also show that Scotland’s female unemployment rate is lower than the UK’s (4.2% vs. 4.4%) as is the female inactivity rate (26.0% vs. 26.5%).
During the same Portfolio Questions session on the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, the Minister for Employability and Training, Jamie Hepburn, set out a range of ways in which the Scottish Government is supporting women into work, including supporting Family Friendly working practices and workplaces and providing funding to support women to return to work after a career break.
Commenting, Ruth said:
“Though there is still a lot of work to do to achieve true gender equality in Scotland, these latest figures reflect the progress being made to increase female employment and reduce gender inequality in Scotland and are to be welcomed.
It is clear SNP Scottish Government policies such as promoting family friendly working practices are having a positive impact on women’s employment opportunities.
The support of this SNP Scottish Government for women stands in stark contrast to a UK Tory Government pursuing callous cuts to tax credits and benefits, which are disproportionately impacting women and children, and pushing thousands further into poverty and away from work.”
Ruth Maguire MSP 