Labour Research February 2000

Features: Equality Matters

EOC marks a century of women's progress

The dramatic changes in women's lives in the last century are highlighted in an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) publication, Women and men in Britain: At the Millennium. It shows that in 1911, women made up less than one third of the labour force, compared to nearly half today. More remarkable is the fact that in the same year four out of five clerical workers were men, whereas today women do 75% of clerical and secretarial jobs.

And before 1914 women's earnings were less than half of men's (between 40% to 50%), compared to 80% today. The EOC guide also gives figures on changes in education and political life for women.

Women and men in Britain: At the Millennium is available from the EOC web site (www.eoc.org.uk) and from the EOC, Overseas House, Quay Street, Manchester M3 3HN (with an A4 sae).