‘Just Getting By’ - Young Women’s Trust
Understanding the current economic and social environment that we live in today is integral to helping people build a future for themselves and create their own financial stability. At C&C Search, a leader in London recruitment specialising in EA, PA, and administration roles, we’re passionate about helping people become all that they can be. With current world events, now is more important than ever to do this, which is why we decided to partner with the Young Women’s Trust.
Recently, the Young Women’s Trust (YWT) released a new report, ‘Just Getting By,’ an annual survey that examines how young women, transwomen, and non-binary persons between 18 to 30 years old are coping in the world of work across England and Wales. This year, they spoke with 4,075 young women, transwomen, and non-binary persons alongside a comparison group of 1,040 young men to understand their thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the world of work, finances, the state of the current government, as well as their aspirations and concerns for the future.
In order to create a full, holistic view of the employment landscape and financial concerns for women, the Young Women’s Trust also surveyed 911 HR or recruitment decision-makers. This focused on their organisation’s employment practices, attitudes, and behaviour towards women in the workplace, shedding light on the challenges faced in recruitment, EA, PA, and administration roles.
Who Are the Young Women’s Trust?
The Young Women’s Trust is a charity focused on achieving economic justice for young women, transwomen, and non-binary persons who live on low or no pay. They provide a range of free services, including 1:1 coaching, CV, and job application assistance as part of their ‘Work It Out’ program. In addition to this, they also campaign for equality in the workplace and conduct research to educate the general public, businesses, and the government, calling for urgent change. This work is particularly relevant to those of us in London recruitment, where the issues of pay equity and career progression are ongoing concerns.
What the Results Show
Over the past few years, enormous strides have been taken to stamp out inequality in the workplace. However, with the emergence of COVID-19, much of the progress has regressed considerably, affecting millions of women across the country, particularly in recruitment, EA, PA, and administration roles.
Key Findings
Women in the workplace are still facing significant barriers in securing new roles or progressing in their careers and are still being paid less than their male peers. The research shows that 24 percent of young women have been paid less than their male colleagues for the same or similar work. A further 11 percent of HR decision-makers have seen women being paid less than men for the same work in their own organisation.
Regarding career progression, survey participants stated that they lacked support to advance in their roles and found it harder to ask for promotions, often encountering negative attitudes from their employers. A more shocking result of the survey found that while HR decision-makers stated that young women have stronger CVs and are more committed to their work compared to young men, 1 in 5 HR decision-makers still feel that men are better suited to senior management roles than women.
What Can Be Done About It?
If we are to change the economic status of young women now, and for future generations, it needs to be a combined effort between governments, schools, businesses, and individuals. From education at school to company-level policies, and from transparent pay-gap reporting to government legislation, all of these efforts will help us combat discrimination and improve lives everywhere, regardless of our own personal backgrounds. This is especially crucial in the recruitment, EA, PA, and administration sectors, where clear pathways to progression are needed.
Research published by Sage in 2014 found that both men and women benefit from a gender-equal society. The study found that men who live in these environments have better physical and mental health, among many other benefits.
Discover the full findings of the report on the Young Women’s Trust website, and see their recommendations for the government and employers to help improve women’s lives. This information is invaluable for anyone involved in recruitment, EA, PA, or administration roles.
Help Us Raise £5,000!
We’re on a mission to raise £5,000 this year for the Young Women’s Trust. Help us reach our target and donate on our GoFundMe page! Whether it’s £5 or £50, every donation helps a young woman reach her full potential and make strides in the world of recruitment, EA, PA, and administration.
To reach out to us for:
EA/PA, HR and Business Support recruitment –philippa@candcsearch.co.uk
Or for our keynotes, training, workshops, and group coaching –lucy@candcsearch.co.uk
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