Interested in women’s progress in the workplace, Reboot Digital PR Agency sought to determine which UK industry women are thriving in the most.
They did so by evaluating factors including female representation, women in higher positions, gender pay gap and female bonuses using the latest data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
The research found that accommodation and food services is the industry where women in the UK are thriving the most with a final index score of 7.25 out of 10. The sector sees 6.81% of females in higher positions of leadership, whilst it also ranks within the top ten for female representation, with over 52.34% of the industry being female.
Following in second place are the administrative and support services (e.g. office admin/support and security and investigation services) which secures an overall average score of 6.88 out of 10. Administrative and support services is one of the industries where female employees are being paid 1.85% more than men, but is let down by its female representation.
The public admin and defence sector (e.g. foreign affairs, fire services and social policy regulations) secures a final average score of 6.63 out of 10, placing third. The industry has over 52.36% of female representation but sees one of the widest pay gaps amongst all the industries analysed – women are being paid 23.64% less than men.
Rounding off the top five is the health and social work industry (e.g medical and dental practises, hospital and residential care) in fourth place with an overall score of 6.50 out of 10, followed by professional, scientific and technical activities (e.g, architecture and engineering, scientific research and legal activities) with a final score of 6.25 out of 10.
| The UK Industries Where Women are Thriving the Most | ||
| Ranking | Industry | Final Average Score
Out of 10 |
| #1. | Accommodation and food services | 7.25 |
| #2. | Administrative and support services | 6.88 |
| #3. | Public admin and defence | 6.63 |
| #4. | Health and social work | 6.50 |
| #5. | Professional, scientific and technical activities | 6.25 |
| #6. | Manufacturing | 5.88 |
| #7. = | Wholesale, retail, repair of vehicles | 5.63 |
| #7. = | Financial and insurance activities | 5.63 |
| #9. | Arts, entertainment and recreation | 5.25 |
| #10. | Information and communication | 4.88 |
* = symbol refers to joint in ranking
In last place, scoring just 0.75/10, women in the mining and quarrying industry are thriving the least. According to the data, women in these roles are being paid a staggering 95.14% less than men. Historically known as a male-dominated industry, it also places second to last for female representation after construction.
| The Five UK Industries Where Women are Thriving the Least | ||
| Ranking | Industry | Final Average Score Out of 10 |
| #1. | Mining and quarrying | 0.75 |
| #2. | Electricity, gas, air condition supply | 2.13 |
| #3. | Transport and storage | 2.50 |
| #4. | Education | 3.13 |
| #5. | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 3.25 |
Naomi Aharony, CEO and Co-Founder at Reboot Digital PR Agency, said: “Overall, the final ranking is promising in that of all the industries analysed, nine out of the 21 scored above five for women’s opportunities. The gender pay gap across all industries is one amongst many factors that are being tackled in the workplace, so it’s very interesting to see a male-dominated industry like construction paying female employees 4.63% more. Though, there is a lot more to be done in normalising gender equality as well as providing a better environment for women in the workplace. ”
Please visit the full study for more information and a full data breakdown.
