Stevenson Addresses Gender Gaps in Future Employment

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast has spoken about how gender gaps can affect the future of Scottish employment, especially in the north-east.

In a debate on Scotland’s future employability services yesterday (Tuesday), Mr Stevenson said:

“We have talked about how there is a huge skew, with few women going into many of the traditionally male-dominated industries. I welcome the fact that, when I go to what is now North East Scotland College, previously Banff and Buchan College, there is always a decent number of women on the oil and engineering courses. It is not yet enough, but a good number of women can see ahead of them a career that is intellectually and economically rewarding and will engage their mental faculties.”

He added that new ways to integrate different groups of people into employment are needed.

“We have to find new models and new ways of mentoring people, including women, people with mental ill health and people who have the ability and desire to recover from addictions.”

He concluded by praising an amendment to the Government’s motion adding:

“The amendment, which talks about wider reforms of employment policy to deliver a more socially just Scotland, is spot on. It captures the whole point of what we are doing.”