Economics of Occupational Segregation: a free one-day course.

Occupational segregation, when women and men are clustered into certain occupations, is a significant cause of the gender pay gap in Scotland. Public sector bodies in Scotland have a duty to take action on occupational segregation as part of their work to bring about equal pay. Occupational segregation is one of two gender priorities identified by Scottish Ministers as part of the gender duty on the public sector. It is also recognised to be a barrier to economic productivity.

Understanding the causes of occupational segregation is complex, but an important issue to engage with when working to meet the gender duty. The Business School at Glasgow Caledonian University have developed this one-day course for Close the Gap, which will enable participants to gain an understanding of different economic analysis of occupational segregation, including feminist economics.

Open to all practitioners working on equality, workforce planning, skills, or related policy areas, it will be of particular relevance to those in the public sector in making the business case for action on occupational segregation, and in rooting proposals for work on gender equality in a robust economic framework.

The course will be delivered through a mixture of presentations and facilitated group discussions, and will consider case studies involving occupational segregation in the workplace. By the end of the course participants should be able to:

1. Outline the basic principles of mainstream neoclassical economics and understand key components of an economics approach.
2. Critique neo-classical economics from a feminist economic perspective and outline why a gender analysis should be central to economics.
3. Describe the nature of occupational segregation and its impact on women.
4. Understand the relationship between ‘value’, ‘productivity’ and ‘pay’ from neo-classical and feminist perspectives.
5. Understand what undervaluing is and how it links together the causes of the gender pay gap.
6. Understand how undervaluing fits within the wider concept of economic theory, sociological theory, and overall labour market perspectives.
7. Discuss occupational segregation with reference to the local government equal pay dispute and the Modern Apprenticeship training programme.

The course will run on the following dates:

Edinburgh: Monday 14 February 2011, 10am to 4pm (registration from 9:30) Scottish Enterprise, Apex House, 99 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5HD.

Glasgow: Friday 18 February 2011, 10am to 4pm (registration from 9:30) Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow G1 1TF

To reserve a place please return the booking form to Shona Roberts at by fax on 0141 337 8101 or call on 0141 337 8131 or email sroberts@stuc.org.uk. Please register by Monday 7  February 2011. Places are limited, and early registration is recommended.