2007 figures showed highest ever rate of women working

TWO OUT of three Irish women were active in the labour market in 2007 – the highest level ever recorded in the State, according to new research.

The study, conducted by the ESRI and the Equality Authority, looked at patterns of female employment between 1998 and 2007. It found that women now represent 42 per cent of the Irish workforce compared to a figure of 37 per cent in 1998.

Despite the rise in the number of women who are employed, the study found that Ireland still remains one of the most gender- segregated countries in term of occupation groups in the EU.

According to the study, most of the increases in women’s employment took place in sectors traditionally occupied by women, such as childcare, teaching and the service industry.

However, there was a large increase in the number of women working in the field of business and commerce – a jump from 37 to 43 per cent between 1998 and 2007. The number of women working in managerial or executive posts increased from 37 to 43 per cent, while the Garda saw its female workforce increase from 8 to 19 per cent.

“Women have made significant inroads into a number of previously male-dominated occupations, but segregation by gender remains a strong feature of the Irish labour market,” Dr Helen Russell, one of the study authors, said yesterday. “Comparisons across Europe suggest that Ireland falls into the group with the highest segregation, alongside the UK, the Netherlands and Finland.”

The study also found that Irish women are still struggling to break through the glass ceiling, with women continuing to be under-represented at senior management level. The study found that men are twice as likely as women to occupy senior and middle management positions.

One of the main factors behind the overall increase in women’s participation in the workforce was the rising level of educational qualifications among women, the survey found.

Demographic changes were also a contributing factor, however, with an increase in the number of women in the 25 to 34 age group – an age category with high workforce participation rates – accounting for much of the rise in employment.

The research also found that the level of employment among women with pre-school children increased during the period, although the number of single mothers working decreased.