working women: how things have changed dr rose ryan

Working women:How things have

changed

Dr Rose Ryan

The 1950’s

Life in 1951: Quick Facts About Women 23% of university

students 8% of married women

in paid work 25% of women in the

labour force 3 elected members of

Parliament Our most common

occupation was clerical work

Waterfront dispute union protest, Wellington 1951

The 1970’s…

Life in 1971: Quick Facts About Women 33% of tertiary

education students 26% of married

women in the full time labour force

39% of women overall in the labour force

4 elected members of Parliament

Our most common occupation was clerical work

Women earned 69% of men’s average OT hourly earnings

Air hostesses model new NEC uniforms in the 1970s

…and now

55% of tertiary education students

61% of women in the labour force

40 woman members of Parliament

Our most common occupation is service and sales work.

New Zealand Now: Quick Facts

…but some things never change!

What has changed for New Zealand Women?

1991 1996 2001 20060

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

MäoriPacific PeoplesAsianMiddle Eastern/Latin American/African(5)

Our population is increasingly diverse

Source: Statistics New Zealand

New Zealand women:o have less children and have them later in

lifeo are oldero are healthier than we have ever beeno are increasingly the head of one parent

householdo are more educatedo spend more of our working lives in the

labour force than in the past

Our lives and our households are changing

010,00020,00030,000

Men 2006Women 2006

We have increasing rates of participation in higher education

15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 15-640

1020304050607080

195119712001

Our labour force participation rate has grown

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

MenWomen

The gender pay gap:Average income 1 year post study

Average income 5 years post study

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002$0

$5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 $40,000 $45,000

MenWomen

Trends in numbers employed in male dominated industries

2000 2002 2004 20060

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Agriculture, forestry and fish-ingManufacturing

Trends in numbers employed in female dominated industries

2000 2002 2004 20060

20406080

100120140160180200

EducationHealth and community services

10 most common occupations for women in 1891 and 20011891 Domestic servant Nurse School teacher Shop Assistant Washer woman Hotel/restaurant servant Dress maker Sewing machinist / tailor Farmer

2001 Caregiver Registered nurse Primary school

teacher Sales assistant Cleaner Retail manager Secretary Accounts clerk General clerk

0–19

20–2

9

30–3

9 40

41–4

4

45–4

9

50–5

9

60+

050,000

100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000350,000400,000

Men NumberWomen Number

Usual hours worked per week

Casual

worker

Fixed

-term

and t

emp a

gency

Perm

anen

t emplo

yee

Emplo

yer

Self-e

mploye

d0

20406080

MenWomen

Type of employment in main job (%)

We have less annual leave than men

0.0200.0400.0600.0

MenWomen

<1 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 160%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

% employed full-time% employed part-time

Our labour force engagement is affected by having children

0

100200300

Menwomen

Unpaid workAverage minutes per day spent on primary activities (Source: Ministry of Women’s Affairs Time Use Survey 1999)

Equal Pay Act Maternity leave introduced Sexual harassment prohibited Human Rights Act Paid parental leave Health and Safety in Employment Act Employment Relations Act Four weeks annual leave Minimum wage rises Flexible working hours legislation

The changing policy environment

“At work, Dad will operate on a 24 hour week. The office will be air-conditioned with stimulating scents and extra oxygen - to give a physical and psychological lift.”

Looking into the future(Weekend Magazine (1961) - a prediction of working life in the year 2000)

A growing resource divide? Changing attitudes to work? The global consequences of climate change

on the labour market? The interface between personal health and

work? Changing nature of households Kiwis returning home? Market economy vs a market society?

Emerging issues

Thank you

Dr Rose Ryanroser@athenaresearch.co.nz