Scottish and UK Governments must do more to help women in the Scottish labour market  

Labour Market Statistics show that women have been particularly badly hit by job losses in Scotland, with the number of female claimants of Job Seekers Allowance having risen by 20% over the past 12 months, while the male number of claimants has flat lined or in some areas decreased. At the same time, industry experts are highlighting there are acute problems around female representation at a high level in both listed and private Scottish firms that need to be addressed urgently. There are also less women in public positions in Scotland now than in 2003. This week I co-ordinated a group of influential signatories from the private sector, academia, trade unions and interest groups to two letters to key committees at Westminster and Holyrood to highlight our growing concern over how women in Scotland are bearing the brunt of unemployment and the consequences this will have in the future. For...