More men applying for 'women's' jobs

13 January 2010

Men are increasingly applying for jobs traditionally seen as women's roles, forcing more women to claim benefits, according to a study.

Categories: Equality & diversity

By Nick Howard

The research, carried out by Sheffield Hallam and Dundee universities, has revealed that men are squeezing female employees out of the job market for 'women's work'.

There are currently 2.6m people claiming for incapacity benefits in the UK, of which 1.1m are women. This marks a three-fold increase on the 350,000 female claimants in the early 1980s.

The study also found that incapacity benefits are claimed by more than one in ten of all women between the ages of 16 and 59 in most of Britain's old industrial areas.

Steve Fothergill, one of the researchers from Sheffield Hallam University, offered some advice on how the Government could deal with the growing problem.

He said: "A twin-track strategy is the only way forward. Most of the women who now claim incapacity benefits will need intensive help, for example with training, if they are to re-engage with the labour market."

But Fothergill added that this would be fruitless unless jobs became available through the economic regeneration of industrial Britain.

A recent report from Cranfield School of Management highlighted that the number of women holding directorships on FTSE 100 corporate boards has not increased over the last year.ADNFCR-1459-ID-19555548-ADNFCR

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