Gender divide in London’s apprenticeships “entrenched”
Gender splits in London’s apprenticeships remain firmly entrenched, new analysis has revealed. Analysis of government data from Labour London Assembly Economy Spokesperson, Dr Fiona Twycross AM, showed that last year men dominated at all levels in London’s construction and engineering industries, whilst women continued to lead the field in health, education and retail. Dr Twycross AM accused Boris Johnson of being “completely culpable of failing to fix that divide”.
Analysis of Skills Funding Agency data has revealed that gender stereotypes continue to influence the male to female ratio of apprenticeships in industries which have traditionally been seen as ‘male’ or ‘female’. Dr Twycross’ analysis revealed that of 1,000 intermediate level construction apprenticeships in London in 2014/15, just 30 (3%) went to women. In engineering, the picture was equally bleak with women taking only 280 intermediate level apprenticeships of 2,810, accounting for just 10%, across the same period.
Men are also continuing to miss out in areas such as health and education, historically viewed as ‘female industries’. There were 5,810 intermediate level apprenticeships in health, public services and care last year, but just 1,020 (18%) went to male applicants. In education, only 40 of 260 intermediate level apprenticeships went to men, accounting for 15%.
At an advanced level the gender split appears to be more extreme, with all higher level apprenticeships in London’s construction and engineering industries going solely to men last year.
Dr Twycross’ analysis comes after the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, conceded that he would miss his target to establish 250,000 apprenticeship starts by 2016. New government figures showed 142,340 apprenticeships have been created since the Mayor’s pledge in 2012, leaving him over 100,000 short of his target figure with just three months to go.
Labour London Assembly Economy Spokesperson, Dr Fiona Twycross AM, said:
“Apprenticeships in London are marred by a serious gender split and Boris Johnson is completely culpable of failing to fix that divide.
“Not only is the Mayor on course to miss his apprenticeships target by an embarrassingly long stretch but in eight years he’s stood back and allowed gender divides to become firmly entrenched.
“The Mayor’s negligence hasn’t only failed young people who have been left unable to carve out the career they’d hoped for, he’s allowed untapped skills to circle down the drain and robbed London’s industries of many potential benefits.
“Boris’ doing-nothingism will leave any new Mayor with an uphill battle to bridge the gender divide.”
Notes to editors
- A gender breakdown of apprenticeships for 2014/15 can be found in the table below:
- A thorough gender breakdown of 2014/15 apprenticeships across all sectors can be found here. This data is taken from the Skills Funding Agency, found here.
- Mayor Boris Johnson pledged that between 2012 and 2016 he would create 250,000 new apprenticeships in London.
- There have been 142,340 apprenticeship starts in London since 2012. This data, from the Skills Funding Agency, is set out here and in the table below:
- Dr Fiona Twycross AM is a Londonwide Assembly Member
For more information please contact London Assembly Labour Group press officer, Alison Orlandi, on 020 7983 4952. Number not for publication.