Information for policymakers

We work with a wide range of policymakers working around the labour market, skills and education to influence and ensure that the development of policy considers the barriers that women face in entering and progressing at work.

Ensuring that your policies, programmes and services consider the needs of both women and men will advance women’s equality in the labour market.

In this section, you'll find information on:

Related publications

Briefing - gender and the workplace, June 2016Briefing - gender and the workplace, June 2016 Close the Gap's briefing to MSPs for the Scottish Parliament debate on gender and the workplace, 29 June 2016

Close the Gap & One Parent Families Scotland - A childcare system for allClose the Gap & One Parent Families Scotland - A childcare system for all

Close the Gap briefing - debate on the EJFW Committee pay gap inquiryClose the Gap briefing - debate on the EJFW Committee pay gap inquiry

Close the Gap response to the Independent Review of Employment Practices in the Modern EconomyClose the Gap response to the Independent Review of Employment Practices in the Modern Economy

Close the Gap submission to the Scottish Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative EconomyClose the Gap submission to the Scottish Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative Economy The problems associated with the gig economy, insecure work and bogus self-employment have a significant impact on women.

Close the Gap submission to the Scottish Government Consultation on the Review of the operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in ScotlandClose the Gap submission to the Scottish Government Consultation on the Review of the operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland

Close the Gap Working Paper 20: Gender pay gap statisticsClose the Gap Working Paper 20: Gender pay gap statistics This paper provides the latest gender pay gap statistics for Scotland and revisits the complexities of measuring and reporting on the pay gap.

Close the Gap's response to Social Security Scotland's draft equality outcomes consultationClose the Gap's response to Social Security Scotland's draft equality outcomes consultation

CtG submission to the Scottish Parliament Equalities and Human Rights Committee on the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) BillCtG submission to the Scottish Parliament Equalities and Human Rights Committee on the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill Taking steps to address women’s under-representation on public boards is a necessary action towards closing the gender pay gap, and tackling women’s economic inequality.

Everything you wanted to know about the gender pay gap but were afraid to askEverything you wanted to know about the gender pay gap but were afraid to ask This briefing aims to answer the most commonly asked questions about the pay gap.

Gender Equality Pays: The economic case for addressing women's labour market inequalityGender Equality Pays: The economic case for addressing women's labour market inequality This paper presents research into the link between gender equality and economic benefit.

How networks and mentoring can address occupational segregation: What policymakers can learn from WiRESHow networks and mentoring can address occupational segregation: What policymakers can learn from WiRES This report summarises the evidence gathered from a Close the Gap project which developed the WiRES network.

Joint response to the Scottish Parliament Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee inquiry report into the gender pay gapJoint response to the Scottish Parliament Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee inquiry report into the gender pay gap Gender equality organisations Close the Gap, Engender, Equate Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid and Zero Tolerance welcome the report of the Scottish Parliament Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee inquiry into the gender pay gap, and call for action.

MSP briefing for IWD parliamentary debateMSP briefing for IWD parliamentary debate A briefing for MSPs for the parliamentary debate on International Women's Day 2017, the theme of which is women in the changing world of work.

Positive shifts, persistent problems: A five year analysis of Scottish employer gender pay gap reportingPositive shifts, persistent problems: A five year analysis of Scottish employer gender pay gap reporting

Public sector equality duty: Guidance for reporting on gender and employmentPublic sector equality duty: Guidance for reporting on gender and employment This guidance provides information to help Scottish public authorities meet the public sector equality duty as it relates to gender and employment.

Response to EHRC enforcing the gender pay gap regulationsResponse to EHRC enforcing the gender pay gap regulations Close the Gap's response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission proposals to enforce the gender pay gap information regulations.

Response to the consultation on the Equally Safe draft delivery planResponse to the consultation on the Equally Safe draft delivery plan Close the Gap's response to the Scottish Government consultation on the Equally Safe draft delivery plan.

Response to the Scottish National Investment Bank consultationResponse to the Scottish National Investment Bank consultation Close the Gap's response to the Scottish Government consultation on a Scottish National Investment Bank.

Response to the social security consultationResponse to the social security consultation Close the Gap's response to the Scottish Government consultation on the future of social security.

Securing Women's Futures: using Scotland's new social security powers to close the gender equality gapSecuring Women's Futures: using Scotland's new social security powers to close the gender equality gap This joint report, produced with Engender, Scottish Women's Aid, Scottish Refugee Council and Carers Scotland, summarises why and how women are affected by social security policy and sets out ways in which new powers can be engaged to increase women’s equality in Scotland.

Submission to Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee inquiry on Scotland’s Economic Performance: trends, challenges and future developmentsSubmission to Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee inquiry on Scotland’s Economic Performance: trends, challenges and future developments CLose the Gap's response to the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee's call for evidence on trends, challenges and future developments around Scotland’s economy.

Submission to the Economy, Jobs, and Fair Work Committee inquiry to the pay gapSubmission to the Economy, Jobs, and Fair Work Committee inquiry to the pay gap Close the Gap's written submission to the Scottish Parliament Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee inquiry into the gender pay gap

Submission to Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into sexual harassmentSubmission to Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into sexual harassment Close the Gap's written submission to the UK Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Gender Penalty: Exploring the causes and solutions to Scotland's gender pay gapThe Gender Penalty: Exploring the causes and solutions to Scotland's gender pay gap This paper presents research which looks at the causes of Scotland’s gender pay gap, and how the causes have changed.

The socio-economic duty consultation: Equality sector response, September 2017The socio-economic duty consultation: Equality sector response, September 2017 A response from a coalition of national equalities organisations, including Close the Gap, to the Scottish Government’s proposals for the socio-economic duty.

Women and Work: What comes next in a post-referendum Scotland?Women and Work: What comes next in a post-referendum Scotland? Close the Gap Working Paper 13 gives an overview of the implications for women and work in the context of the Scottish independence referendum.

Women's sector response to the Gender Recognition Act consultationWomen's sector response to the Gender Recognition Act consultation Close the Gap worked with Engender, Scottish Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, Zero Tolerance and Equate Scotland to produce a joint response to the Scottish Government consultation on proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act.

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