Young women hit by bias

The number of young women facing discrimination at work has risen markedly over the last 12 months, the Young Women’s Trust charity reports in its annual survey for 2023.

The Long Road to Change surveyed 4,000 young women and found that half (50%) had faced some sort of discrimination at work, compared to just over two-fifths last year (42%), while almost a quarter (23%) said they were paid less than male peers in 2023.

Young women also feel less able to report discrimination than young men, with a quarter saying they fear challenging instances at work. More than a third (34%) of human resources professionals knew of discrimination against young women and 28% said it was harder for them to progress in their careers than men.

A manifesto devised by the charity calls for greater salary transparency at work and action to tackle gender pay gaps, more flexible work opportunities and a better childcare system, along with a clear career pathway and training schemes for young women workers.

The Trust’s chief executive Claire Reindorp said the research revealed “deep-rooted and widespread discrimination driving income inequality”, adding that young women face a “broken rung on the career ladder”. She called on government and employers to “stop living in the dark ages and realise the true potential young women can bring to society and our economy”.