Diverse women climbing through a cracked glass ceiling, symbolizing equal opportunity.

Shattering the Sectoral Glass Ceiling: How Gender Segregation Impacts UK Wages and Opportunities

Rhea Morgan in Business & Economy August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the hidden barriers in the UK labor market that disproportionately affect women's career trajectories and earnings, and what can be done to break them down."

For years, the push for gender equality in the workplace has centered on equal pay and access to leadership roles. However, a more subtle yet pervasive challenge remains: gender segregation across industries. While many OECD countries, including the UK, have seen increased female participation in the workforce, this progress is often concentrated in sectors where women are already over-represented, like healthcare, education, and service industries.

This uneven distribution raises critical questions about the true extent of opportunity for women and the factors that continue to shape their career paths. Are women actively choosing these sectors, or are they subtly steered towards them by societal expectations and systemic barriers? And what impact does this segregation have on their wages and career advancement?

A groundbreaking study analyzes these patterns in the UK labor market between 2005 and 2020, shedding light on how gender segregation influences women's employment contracts, wages, and overall economic well-being. The findings expose the hidden mechanisms that perpetuate inequality, offering valuable insights for policymakers and businesses committed to creating a truly level playing field.

The Uneven Playing Field: Sectoral Segregation in the UK Labor Market

Diverse women climbing through a cracked glass ceiling, symbolizing equal opportunity.

The UK labor market vividly illustrates this divide. Sectors like education, health, and households as employers have a workforce comprised of over 70% women. Conversely, industries such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction, and transportation remain heavily male-dominated, with women holding less than 30% of the jobs.

While policies like the Equality Act 2010 (EA2010) aim to combat gender discrimination, industrial segregation continues to be a major factor in shaping labor market differentials. Women are not only sorted into specific sectors, but this sorting also affects their employment terms, including part-time work, remote opportunities, and, crucially, wages.

Persistent Discriminatory Constraints: Women face barriers in the labor market stemming from discrimination and unobserved differences in productivity and tastes.
Occupational and Job Dimensions: Gender segregation impacts gender wage gap through occupational and job limitations.
Gender Division of Labor: Influenced by societal norms, self-selection into jobs can distort labor market trajectories and wages.

These findings echo earlier research highlighting how ingrained gender divisions of labor across sectors are linked to structural issues and economic shifts. To fully grasp the trajectory of male and female employment and wages, we must consider the sectoral composition of the workforce.

Policy Implications: Charting a Course Towards Gender Equity

This study offers crucial insights for creating a more equitable labor market, gender segregation can cause more challenges for women than men regarding labor participation and access to career opportunities. By addressing persistent inequalities in female-dominated sectors and challenging discriminatory barriers, policy-makers can pave the way for a future where women have the opportunity to thrive in any industry they choose. Further research could focus on zero-hour contracts and casual work.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s00181-024-02611-1,

Title: Gender Segregation: Analysis Across Sectoral-Dominance In The Uk Labour Market

Subject: econ.gn q-fin.ec

Authors: Riccardo Leoncini, Mariele Macaluso, Annalivia Polselli

Published: 08-03-2023

Everything You Need To Know

What is gender segregation in the UK labor market?

Gender segregation in the UK labor market refers to the uneven distribution of men and women across different industries. Sectors like education, health, and households as employers are predominantly female, while others like agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction, and transportation are heavily male-dominated. This segregation contributes significantly to labor market differentials, affecting employment terms, opportunities, and, importantly, wages for women.

How does gender segregation impact women's wages and career advancement in the UK?

Gender segregation significantly impacts women's wages and career advancement through several mechanisms. Women are often sorted into specific sectors, which in turn affects their employment terms, including part-time work and remote opportunities. The gender wage gap is exacerbated by these sectoral divisions and job limitations. Additionally, the prevalence of women in certain sectors, like healthcare and education, might influence the perceived value of their work, leading to lower pay compared to male-dominated industries. Persistent discriminatory constraints and societal norms further reinforce these disparities.

What are the key factors contributing to gender segregation in the UK workforce?

Several factors contribute to gender segregation in the UK workforce. These include persistent discriminatory constraints, which create barriers for women in certain industries. Societal norms and expectations also play a role, influencing the gender division of labor and potentially leading women to self-select into certain jobs. Additionally, unobserved differences in productivity and tastes, along with occupational and job dimensions, can contribute to the sorting of women into specific sectors. Industrial segregation is a major factor in shaping labor market differentials.

How do policies like the Equality Act 2010 (EA2010) address gender inequality, and what are their limitations?

The Equality Act 2010 (EA2010) aims to combat gender discrimination in the workplace. While it provides a legal framework to address issues like equal pay and access to leadership roles, it has limitations. Industrial segregation, a major factor in shaping labor market differentials, is not directly addressed by the Act. The Act primarily tackles explicit discrimination, whereas gender segregation is often driven by more subtle factors such as societal expectations and the implicit biases within hiring and promotion processes. Thus, policies need to go beyond the act to tackle the root causes.

What policy implications arise from the study of gender segregation in the UK labor market, and what further research is needed?

The study highlights that addressing persistent inequalities in female-dominated sectors and challenging discriminatory barriers is crucial for creating a more equitable labor market. Policymakers can focus on initiatives that promote equal opportunities for women in all industries and encourage the breaking down of gender stereotypes. Further research could focus on zero-hour contracts and casual work. Addressing these issues is essential for women to thrive in any industry they choose. It's crucial to fully grasp the trajectory of male and female employment and wages, considering the sectoral composition of the workforce.