Andrew Dismore

Gender splits in London’s apprenticeships remain firmly entrenched, new analysis has revealed. Analysis of government data by Labour London Assembly Member Andrew Dismore, 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. Mr Dismore 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’. Mr Dismore’s 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.

 

Mr Dismore’s 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 Member for Barnet and Camden, Andrew Dismore 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.”

 

ENDS

 

Notes

 

• A gender breakdown of apprenticeships for 2014/15 can be found in the table below:

Health, Public Services and Care	11,650	26%
Intermediate Level Apprenticeship	5,810	50%
Female	4,790	82%
Male	1,020	18%
Advanced Level Apprenticeship	5,170	44%
Female	4,370	85%
Male	810	16%
Higher Apprenticeship	660	6%
Female	520	79%
Male	140	21%
Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies	4,330	10%
Intermediate Level Apprenticeship	2,810	65%
Female	280	10%
Male	2,530	90%
Advanced Level Apprenticeship	1,500	35%
Female	60	4%
Male	1,440	96%
Higher Apprenticeship	10	0%
Female	*	0%
Male	10	100%
Construction, Planning and the Built Environment	1,250	3%
Intermediate Level Apprenticeship	1,000	80%
Female	30	3%
Male	970	97%
Advanced Level Apprenticeship	240	19%
Female	20	8%
Male	210	88%
Higher Apprenticeship	10	1%
Female	*	0%
Male	10	100%
Retail and Commercial Enterprise	7,180	16%
Intermediate Level Apprenticeship	5,530	77%
Female	2,940	53%
Male	2,580	47%
Advanced Level Apprenticeship	1,640	23%
Female	1,030	63%
Male	610	37%
Higher Apprenticeship	20	0%
Female	10	50%
Male	*	0%
Education and Training	850	2%
Intermediate Level Apprenticeship	260	31%
Female	220	85%
Male	40	15%
Advanced Level Apprenticeship	590	69%
Female	520	88%
Male	70	12%

 

 

• 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:

Mayoral Year	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q1
Academic Year	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
2012/13	12370	9400	10420	12880	45070
2013/14	11080	8280	9380	11310	40050
2014/15	11380	9470	11560	13140	45550
2015/16	11670				11670
Total	34830	27150	31360	93340	142,340

 

• Andrew Dismore AM is the London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden.