Redressing gender inequality in employment: the national and sub-regional policy ‘fit’

Abstract

This article examines the ‘fit’ between policy development regarding gender inequality in employment at sub-regional and national (UK) level, in particular focusing on the experience of women. Drawing on research undertaken in Coventry and Warwickshire, the article explores the question of how policy development at sub-regional level fits with national policy, and whether the sub-region is an appropriate, or effective, level at which to develop policy on gender inequality in employment. It is argued that while there needs to be recognition of the limited ability of sub-regional policy to confront structural issues, policy development at this level does offer potential strengths in redressing both gender inequality in employment and the relative lack of a gender dimension in local economic development.

Keywords:

• Local economic development
• policy formation
• gender inequality
• sub-regional policy
• labour market

Notes

The research was commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Coventry and Warwickshire, with funding from the European Social Fund. It formed part of the LSC's commitment to issues of equality which also includes implementing a system of Equality and Diversity Impact Measures to provide targets for improvement relating to participation, retention and achievement at each level of qualification and learning activity (see LSC, 2002).