PwC’s annual Women in Work index examines trends in female participation, employment and progression across 33 OECD countries.
It finds that while the UK’s female labour participation rate and gender pay gap have both improved, overall progress has slowed as the female unemployment rate sharply increased from 3.5% in 2023 to 4.2% in 2024. This year’s index features a special analysis on the UK’s growing NEET (not in employment, education or training) among under-25s, with a focus on young women. It presents econometric analysis of the drivers of rising NEET rates among women and draws on international best practice from countries with low NEET rates, highlighting insights for the UK as efforts to tackle the NEET problem intensify.
