Close the Gap, COVID-19 and Women’s Employment Inequality

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of Close the Gap's report, Disproportionate Disruption: The impact of COVID-19 on women’s labour market equality; understands that the new research highlights the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women’s employment and the consequential risk that this will exacerbate women’s inequality in the labour market; notes with concern that women in low-paid service sector jobs, part-time jobs and zero-hours contract jobs are particularly affected by COVID-19 job disruption, placing them at greater risk of poverty; understands that women, particularly Black and minority ethnic women and young women, are more likely to work in a sector that has been shut down; is aware that evidence also shows additional childcare and care responsibilities are falling to women, making it more difficult to carry out paid work from home, where this is required by their employer; considers that the forecasted economic downturn and high chance of increased unemployment will impact women harder as they are more likely to work in highly exposed service sectors such as hospitality and retail; considers that these findings underline the importance of a gendered response to the COVID-19 crisis and the need for Scotland’s economic recovery plan to recognise the disproportionate effects of job disruption on women’s employment, and address women’s labour market inequality as a central aim, and welcomes Close the Gap’s report and recommendations as a crucial and welcome piece of work that will help ensure this is achieved.