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Women are still massively under-represented in top local government jobs, according new statistics. Figures from the latest edition of the Municipal Year Book reveal just 25% of chief executives in county councils are women. The lowest figure is 3% in Northern Ireland's district councils. It came as Unison's head of local government, Heather Wakefield, warned councils ‘desperately' needed to take steps to ensure senior female local government workers could land top jobs. She reacted to a new report by the Centre for Women and Democracy, which showed it would take 100 years to get gender equality in local government. She said: ‘When one considers that 75% of local government staff are women, the situation looks even worse. ‘This report clearly demonstrates that women are lagging behind when it comes to their career prospects.' The report, The effect of new unitary authorities on the representation of women, urges political leaders to take action. It warned: ‘If steps are not taken, it is likely that, over the next few years, the very small increases in women's representation as local government leaders and councillors will be reversed.' l You can subscribe to MYB online from the home page Women in local government l 25% of chief executives in county councils are women, with unitary councils having the highest percentage of almost 35%. The lowest figure is 3% in Northern Ireland's district councils. l 24% of senior managers in county councils are women, while only 13% in Welsh unitary authorities are women l The entire political leadership of London is male l 34% of councils have either a woman leader or the chief executive. This leaves 248 authorities in which there are no women at all in either of the two key leadership positions l At South Northamptonshire DC the leader, deputy leader and chief executive are all women.

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WHITEHALL

Women lag behind in filling top council jobs

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