Work and Pensions Committee Inquiry: Get Britain Working – Reforming Jobcentres

This response draws in evidence from a number of local WBG partners about the issues experienced by their members/women they support in dealing with the job centres, including Penelope; Ruth Greenberg; and Erin Parker Leonard, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Represent Women. Our recommendations are informed by the input from these organisations but do not represent the shared view of all of them.

Structural gendered inequalities continue to shape work and employment in Britain. Unpaid care work, gender stereotypes, gender pay gaps, unequal pay, and intersecting inequalities all influence where, how much, and under what conditions women work. They also determine how much women are paid. These inequalities are both the cause and consequence of other major gender disparities in the UK, including women’s overrepresentation in poverty, precarious work, lack of economic independence, and violence against women and girls.

Unpaid care is the root cause of women’s economic inequality. Women carry out 50% more unpaid work than men on average ¹ . As a result, women are more likely to be economically inactive, in low-paid, part-time and precarious forms of work. Jobcentres, as a key point of contact for many women seeking employment, must recognise these structural challenges in order to provide effective support. This structural disadvantage is compounded by other forms of inequality, including race, disability, and sexual orientation. These compounding barriers can prevent women from accessing adequate support to access opportunities for well-paid, high-quality employment.

It is essential that Jobcentres reform to account for these issues, addressing the systemic barriers women face and providing support that is tailored, accessible, and sensitive to the specific needs of diverse women.

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