..to be worried that 1/3 of women aren’t in employment and economically vulnerable?

[windygallows]

ONS stats (latest from 2013) state that women of working age (16-64) only 67% are in the labour market, therefore 33% of women not in employment. That’s 1/3! Moreover of the 67% working, 42% of them work part time.

So that means it breaks down like this:
Women 16-64
Not in employment – 33%
Working part time – 28%
Working full time – 39%
Total - 100%

www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/datasets/alldatausedinthewomeninthelabourmarketreport

Now I know there are a million reasons for these stats from women’s role as primary childcare provider to challenges women face finding flexible working, the glass ceiling, lower paid roles for women. I get it. And many on MN will inevitably remind me about the beneficial role women obvs make outside the labour market, from voluntary work to caring. And that work is not the be all and end all. And nor am I advocating for a life of constant work either.

But what these stats mean on the most basic, practical level is that the MAJORITY of women probably cannot cover their cost of living (either they don’t have an income or a limited income through pt work) and are probably reliant on someone for their sustenance – a partner, a parent, the government, family savings, their savings. This means the majority of women are economically vulnerable. Wouldn’t you say so?

Of course there will always be anomalies to this rule - the highly paid IT consultant who will say she can survive on her part-time salary or the woman with a trust fund. But these people are outside the norm. These stats tell me that the majority of women need someone else to support them financially. It’s scary!

PS - As an aside In 1959 52.9% of women were in the labour market and it’s now 67% - not a hugely dramatic difference

I think part time work is awesome and more people of both sexes should do it. I think society works better when people are not working 40++ hrs a week.
Also it’s a lot easier to move into ft work should you need to from pt than from not in work.

I feel fortunate to work in a decently paid pt job but if any of my children were disabled or developed conditions either physical or mental that made childcare unsuitable I’d leave my job in a flash if it were best for them.

Surely most of the 16-21 range are in education

That's a stupid place to start a statistic when education is compulsory to 18 (in England, not Scotland I don't think)

Agree a lot of women are financially very vulnerable.

Some of that 33% will be unable to work through mental or physical illness, disability or severe special needs, OP. So it would never be an option for them.
Some will have preschool children and be unable to earn enough to pay for childcare.
Some may be sahms, gambling on their DH not dumping them for another woman. On current divorce statistics, that’s a 50:50 gamble.
Some may be in full time education. Probably half of the 16 to 21 year olds will be at school or uni.
I think many of the women with young kids will go back to work when they’re school age, so you may be worrying needlessly.

I think it's important if you are in a couple and agree that one of you will stop work you need to be married.

To be fair even when I was working my salary was so crap I needed supporting anyway.

fairy cake, if you look at the statistics they break down by age.

	Percentage
1993	2013

16 years 34.4 12.9
17 years 50.3 34.2
18 years 58.0 45.2
19 years 54.0 46.9
20 years 57.8 47.4
21 years 59.7 51.6
22 years 64.3 61.5
23 years 68.4 63.2
24 years 65.4 65.8
25 years 65.2 69.6
26 years 66.0 70.7
27 years 66.9 73.4
28 years 64.5 73.0
29 years 65.9 70.6
30 years 65.3 72.9
31 years 64.7 74.0
32 years 62.4 73.5
33 years 66.4 76.0
34 years 64.7 72.5
35 years 66.3 76.6
36 years 66.0 74.1
37 years 68.8 72.9
38 years 70.5 75.5
39 years 74.4 73.9
40 years 73.9 77.2
41 years 76.1 75.6
42 years 74.4 74.3
43 years 77.9 75.2
44 years 74.8 75.8
45 years 76.7 80.8
46 years 74.0 78.2
47 years 76.1 78.2
48 years 73.7 78.8
49 years 72.4 76.7
50 years 70.5 76.4
51 years 67.8 79.0
52 years 66.3 77.0
53 years 64.4 76.8
54 years 61.8 77.7
55 years 57.0 74.2
56 years 56.6 70.7
57 years 53.6 69.0
58 years 44.0 65.8
59 years 43.2 60.7
60 years 35.1 51.5
61 years 27.6 43.1
62 years 21.4 34.1
63 years 19.8 31.7
64 years 15.1 26.9
Source: Labour Force Survey person datasets

sorry that table didn't translate will but it is employment rates by age in 1993 and 2013

I have recently made the decision to separate from my husband. I count myself very lucky that I work full time in a flexible fairly well paid role that gave me the freedom to make that decision without worrying about how I would pay the bills. Had I gone part time this would not be the case.

I’m not employed, have no personal savings and no pension. Dh works away mon-fri, we have 2 dc’s, one who has additional needs and one who is not yet old enough to get nursery funding. Dh transfers money into my account each month but if he decided not to one month and buggered off without us I’d be completely fucked within a couple of weeks.

I do feel vulnerable in some ways but, although dh and I don’t currently have a great relationship, I just have to trust that he won’t screw us over. I’m 95% sure he wouldn’t but I do keep thinking I need to set up a little savings account just for myself.

I'm a disabled woman that hasn't been in employment for decades you are rightwe are vulnerable but what can we do?

I take your point that these figures exist. However, im not sure why YOU are worried. The people who may choose to be worried sgould be women who are not financially independent. Not sure it's your job to worry over their choices.

Carers, volunteers, sahms ...

I think many of the women with young kids will go back to work when they’re school age, so you may be worrying needlessly.

A bit but not really. You'd think most women were past the small child age at 50 but the employment rate for women at 50 is 76.4% and that includes both part and full time work.

I am worried if those 1/3 women want to be in work but don’t have the support to do so. If they’ve chosen not to be in work and they’re happy with it though they don’t need my concern.

Do get your own savings account heffalump i have just incase savings it isn't much but makes me feel better.

From 25- 64 rate is higher with only the odd exception. Also significant is the later retirement age and increase in higher education places.

I take your point that these figures exist. However, im not sure why YOU are worried.

Um, many posts on MN are about things that might not directly affect the OP. The economic situation of women is one of the main drivers of the feminist movement.

What do the statistics for men look like? How many of the 55+ women have taken early employment? How many of the under 26s are still studying? You can do whatever you want with statistics.

*retirement not employment of course!

I am worried if those 1/3 women want to be in work but don’t have the support to do so. If they’ve chosen not to be in work and they’re happy with it though they don’t need my concern.

But they are still relying on someone else for their day to day sustenance.

Yanbu. I am one of those pt low paid women and feel annoyed I let it happen. I trust my dh but would be screwed if he left. I'm working on fixing it.

What do the statistics for men look like? How many of the 55+ women have taken early employment? How many of the under 26s are still studying? You can do whatever you want with statistics.

Have a look at the stats - the link is in the original post. Sure some of the women 55+ may have taken early retirement and the stats don't provide this level of detail but I doubt 25% of women aged 55 are in early retirement.

Lizs that's exactly the op's point. Many women undertaking those roles are financially vulnerable.

There are a number of women who give up work to care for children without fully considering the long term financial implications. Removing yourself from the labour market for a few years has a much larger impact on long term financial security than people often realise.

I agree with you, OP.

But they are still relying on someone else for their day to day sustenance
Yes but it’s their choice to do so. I personally wouldn’t want to not work but I don’t think we should be forcing women into work who don’t want to be there.
If you want to talk about making childcare more accessible, or offering more flexible working or better support for women who are disabled or who care for disabled family in the work place then I am totally on board. I just can’t get behind taking away the choice for women to stay at home and have their partner support them if that’s what they choose.