About the data
Three main datasets were consulted for the project: the Annual Population Survey, the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and the Labour Force Survey Household. All three studies provide detailed information on economic activity, employment rates of households, wages and hours worked, household income, education levels attained, lone mothers and fathers, cohabiting couples and married couples.
Additional data by the Cranfield Centre for Developing Women Business Leaders provided an in-depth breakdown of female leaders in FTSE100 companies, displaying the levels of directorships and executive directorships held by women across firms.
How the data were used
This research project was motivated by a need for up-to-date figures for the 'Women in London's Economy' publications, showing the relationships and roles women play in the city's economy. The latest publications of the three surveys provided the basis for this much-needed information. Economic activity rates were extracted from the Annual Population Survey across gender and geographical region - and later ethnicity and disability - to reflect women's changing roles in London during the current economic climate. This was furthered by examining changes in employment levels by gender in London over the last 18 quarters.
The study also used latest figures for child dependency against employment, gender and location - as well as the impact of economic circumstances on lone, cohabiting and married parents - to evaluate changes in social views. In addition the study evaluated updated 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles for wages across different levels of qualifications and occupations to evaluate the current gender pay ratio.
Results of the research are published in Working Paper 45: Women in London's economy - Update 2010
About the author
Steven Edgson is an intern at Greater London Authority (GLA) Economics. His work focuses specifically on the evaluation of public policies with regard to promoting women's roles in the workforce.
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