Gender segregation in the labour market: the role of the Scottish enterprise and local enterprise companies

This article examines aspects of gender inequality in the Scottish labour market. The Scottish Executive’s broad policy aim of addressing this is viewed alongside some activities and practices of Scottish Enterprise and Local Enterprise Companies. The article provides an overview of the pattern of female participation in the labour market, particularly vertical gender segregation (the ‘glass ceiling’), and outlines some measures used by the Scottish Executive to address aspects of such occupational segregation. This topic is of current interest given the Equality Act’s (2006) Gender Equality Duty on all public sector and publicly funded organisations to eliminate sex discrimination and occupational segregation. The focus on Scottish Enterprise is especially significant. It is a publicly funded body, with a remit to stimulate the wider economy including the private business sector. And since the Scottish Executive aims to address gender segregation in public and private sectors, and is itself the key funder of enterprise development, the Scottish Enterprise occupies an important interstice.