Scottish employers ‘should act now’ to help women over 50

A new report produced on behalf of Scotland’s Fair Work Convention by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) says that these older workers, which comprise roughly a third of Scotland’s workforce, often face greater inequalities in pay than younger women in relation to men.

The research also found that, of the women interviewed – who all either worked in the finance and insurance or information and communications sectors - many expressed reluctance to pursue opportunities for progression, and that this was typically associated with a wish to avoid potential stress and pressure. The majority of the women in the study also felt their capacity and desire to pursue opportunities for more pay and responsibility had suffered as they got older.  

The study also revealed that while many women are concerned about age discrimination, employers often fail to consider age as an important aspect of workplace diversity and inclusion.

In response to these findings, the report calls for employers to take action to increase opportunities for flexible working for women over 50, given the likelihood that they will have substantial caring responsibilities. The report also recommends that employers increase their monitoring of pay, progression and training by age, and that employers would benefit from increased support and guidance in addressing age discrimination in the workplace.

NIESR senior social researcher Katharine Stockland said: “This report shows that women over 50 experience barriers in the workplace that are specific both to their age and gender.

“In order to address these challenges around pay and progression experienced by this group of women, employers must reflect on their workplace practices and consider to what extent their training, support and promotion opportunities reflect the needs of this group of women.

"Especially in the context of labour shortages that have been driven partly by older workers dropping out of the labour market, employers should act now.”

A statement from Fair Work Convention co-chairs Mary Alexander and Patricia Findlay added: “We know the challenges faced by women at work do not simply start when a woman turns 50. The impacts of workplace policies and practices that systematically disadvantage women build cumulatively over an individual’s career. What this research demonstrates is that the intersection of age and gender is uniquely shaping women’s experiences of work in ways that are leaving older women significantly worse off both in career progression and in pay.

“The Fair Work Convention calls on employers to take urgent action to support older women at work. Employers, the Scottish Government and trade unions all have a role to play in addressing this longstanding and deep-seated inequality, and it cannot just be left to individual older women to address these difficult issues on their own. Our research and response piece gives clear actions that employers and other can take today to improve fair work for older women.”