"Coventry the worst in region for women at work"

Fewer women work in Coventry than in any other part of the West Midlands, according to new figures.



The GMB union say of the 122,400 people in a job in the city, just 45.5% of them are women.

In Warwickshire, women actually outnumber men – with 50.1% in employment.

The union is now pushing for more support for women in the workplace and the removal of barriers which could stop them getting a job in the first place, or promotion.

Local businesswoman Karren Brady, thinks the fact that in 6 areas of the West Midlands women outnumber men could be down to companies allowing more of them to work from home:

“I think most employers are beginning to recognise that people do need flexibility and actually working from home and working from an office, they are some jobs where that works better than others, but where there can be flexibility there’s a happy workforce.

And Karren says it is getting easier to balance having a family with bringing in money: “We’re all trying to have to make the most of our day – I try and be in two places at once and modern technology has made that possible.

“You’ll very often see me at my son’s sports day, dialling in to a board meeting.”

Where I come from married women aren't expected to work and employers are forced to pay their husbands a decent living wage so they don't have to!

Where I come from married women aren't expected to work and employers are forced to pay their husbands a decent living wage so they don't have to!

I have very similar beliefs. When I was married with a family, I went out to work, the wife looked after the family and house.

I can also remember when women were valued for the contribution they made to family life as opposed to the amount of money they could earn!